LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




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STORY OF OUR GOUNTRY 



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Little Men and Women 

A Thrilling Account of the Progress of Our Country 
told in the Simple Language of Childhood 



THE MOST INTERESTING EVENTS IN AMERICAN HISTORY 
DESCRIBED IN WORDS OF ONE SYLLABLE 



By JOHN WESLEY HANSON, Ji 



PROFUSELY ILLUSTRATED 



JUVENILE PUBLISHING COMPANY. 



\<S\ 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1896, 

By ROBERT O. LAW, 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C. 




WASHINGTON TAKING COMMAND OF THE CONTINENTAL ARMY. 




THE SURRENDER AT YORKTOWN. 



^able of Contents, 



^ 



CHAPTER 


I. < 


CHAPTER 


H. 


CHAPTER 


HI. 


CHAPTER 


IV. 


CHAPTER 


V. 


CHAPTER 


VI. 


CHAPTER 


VII. 


CHAPTER 


VIII. 


CHAPTER 


IX. 


CHAPTER 


X. 


CHAPTER 


XL 


CHAPTER 


XII. 


CHAPTER 


XIII. 


CHAPTER 


XIV. 


CHAPTER 


XV. 


CHAPTER 


XVI. 


CHAPTER 


XVII. 


CHAPTER 


XVIII. 


CHAPTER 


XIX. 


CHAPTER 


XX. 



Columbus and His Voyages. 

Early Explorers. 

Landing of the Pilgrims. 

Settlements of the Dutch. 

The Old Dominion. 

The Massachusetts Bay Colony. 

The Virginian Colony. 

The End of Dutch Rule. 

Peril and Hardship. 

The Settlement of Pennsylvania. 

Discoveries in the Northwest. 

The French and Indian War. 

The English Victorious. 

Liberty or Death. 

The Boston Tea Party. 

First Blood. 

Hard Times. 

Crossing the Delaware. 

Valley Forge. 

Treason. 



TABLE OF CONTENTS— Continued. 



CHAPTER XXI. Victory at Last. 

CHAPTER XXH. From Washington to Lincoln. 

CHAPTER XXHL The Civil War. 

CHAPTER XXIV. Unconditional Surrender. 

CHAPTER XXV. The Monitor and the Merrimac. 

CHAPTER XXVI. Sinking the Alabama. 

CHAPTER XXVII. The March to the Sea. 

CHAPTER XXVIII. From Lincoln to Cleveland. 

CHAPTER XXIX. Our Navy. 

List of Presidents. 

Declaration of Independence. 

Constitution of the United States. 




Xist of ITUustrations. 

Washington Taking Command ok the Continental Akmy. 

The Surrender at Yorktown. 

A Viking Boat. 

Columbus and His Son Begging. 

Isabella — Columbus. 

The Indian. 

Columbus Frightens the Indians. 

The Three Caravels. 



Columbus. 

De Soto on the March. 

Sebastian Cabot at Labrador. 

Burial of De Soto. 

Old Stone Mill at Newport. 

First Washday in New England. 

A Puritan Soldier. 

The Mayflower. 

Trading with the Indians. 

At Sea. 

Dutchman at an Inn. 

Peter Stuyvesant Defiant. 

Going to Church. 

Elizabeth. 

Charles I. of England. 

Arrival of Sir Walter Raleigh. 

Charles II. of England. 

Captain John Smith. 

Nathaniel Bacon. 

Oliver Cromwell. 

Mary Dyer Going to P^xecution. 

Are the Indians Coming? 

A Friendly Indian. 

The Pipe of Peace. 

Little Puritans. 

A Puritan Girl. 

The Charter Oak. 

Attacking the Block House. 

A Patroon's Manor House. 

On the Hudson. 

King Philip. 

Benjamin Franklin. 

Death of Montgomery. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS— Continued. 



A Farmer's Hut in Winter. 

Unexplored Regioks. 

French Traders. 

Scouts. 

George Washington in His Youth. 

On the Warpath. 

solitudf. 

Quebec. 

Pontiac. 

An Early Settler. 

An Old Trapper. 

An Indian Attack. 

A Jesuit Missionary. 

Braddock's Defeat. 

Into the Wilderness. 

A British Sentry. 

Indian Troops. 

Ruins at Fort Ticonderoga. 

Scene of the Tea Plot. 

Bunker Hill Monu.ment. 

Addressing the People. 

Colonial Days. 

Young Patriots. 

House in which the Declaration of Independence was Signed 

Marquis de Lafayettf.. 

General Putnam. 

Charge B.\yonets! 

Off to the War. 

Crying the Stamps. 

The Call to Arms. 

Burning the Stamps. 

The Young Minute Man. 

Independence Hall. 

Battle of Harlem Heights. 

Signing THE Declaration of Independence. 

George Washington. 

Recruiting. 

George III.. King of Great Britain. 

Escape of Benedict Arnold. 

Patrick Henry. 

The Retreat. 

The Washington Elm. 

Inauguration of Washington. 

Old Beacon Hill. Boston. 

Winter Spurts. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS— Continued. 



A District School. 

Peaceful Days. 

The Surrender. 

Capture of Andre. 

Henry Clay. 

Abraham Lincoln. 

General W. T. Sherman. 

General Ulysses S. Grant. 

James A. Garfield. 

Benjamin Harrison. 

Flight of Negroes from Fort Pillow. 

A New England Jumper. 

On the Canal. 

Building a Log Cabin. 

Hard Times with the Red Men. 

The Gun at Work. 

Sheridan's Famous Ride. 

Federal Iron-clad River Gunboat. 

A Railroad Battery. 

Bombardment of Fort Sumter by the Union Fleet. 

The " Merrim.ac" Sinking the " Cumberland." 

A Naval Engagement During the War of 1812. 

Scene on the St. Lawrence River. 

James G. Blaine. 

Grovkr Cleveland. 

Lieutenant Cushing's Attack on the " Albemarle." 

Rutherford B. Hayes. 

Chester A. Arthur. 

The White House. 

The Great Eastern. 

Monitor and Merrimac. 

Admiral Farragut. 

Scene Near West Point. 

United States Battle Ships—" Newark," " Charleston," " Iowa," 
"Oregon," " Miantonomoh," " Yorktown," " Petrel," " Brook- 
lyn," " Baltimore," " Maine." 

Portrait of John Hancock. 

Portraits of Presidents of the United States — John Adams, 
Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, JohnQuincy 
Adams, Andrew Jackson, Martin Van Buren, William H. 
Harrison, John Tyler, James K. Polk, Zachary Taylor, 
Millard Fillmore, Franklin Pikrch, James Buchanan, Andrew 
Johnson. 




COLUMBUS AND HIS SON BEGGING. 



STORY OF OUR COUNTRY 

FOR LITTLE MEN AND WOMEN 



CHAPTER I. 



COLUMBUS AND HIS VOYAGES. 

In the year 1435 ^ son was born to an Italian wool-carder by the name of 
Co-lum-bus. The boy was called Chris-to-pher and grew to be a fine, handsome 
lad. He was kind and obedient to his father, but like many boys he longed 
to become a sailor. But he loved books almost as well as he loved the sea, and 
so he spent his leisure moments in study. It was probably from reading the 
works of old scholars that he conceived the idea that the world was round. 
So it seemed natural that if it was a sphere it would be possible by sailing 
westward to reach the rich countries of In-di-a, Tar-ta-ry and Cath-ay. 

Co-lum-bus became so interested that he could think of nothing else but 
the wonderful discoveries that would result if his plan could only be carried out. 
But who could he get to help him? He went from one city to another seeking 
aid from the great nobles. He even went to the King of Por-tu-gal and pic- 
tured to him the wealth he would gain by furnishing ships for the dis- 
covery of these far-away lands. But the King and every one else only laughed 
at him. 

In the midst of these disappointments the wife of Co-lum-bus died. For a 
year he and his boy, Di-e-go, wandered about the country hungry, destitute 
and almost starving, but he endured his troubles with patience, believing the 
time would come when he would realize the one dream of his life. It so hap 




COLUMBUS. 
The Yanea 'portrait, Madrid, Library. 



COLUMBUS ANB HIS VOYAGES. 18 

pened that one day he sought shelter in the Fran-cis-can Con-vent of San-ta 
Ma-ri-a de la Ra-bi-da. He told the prior of his plan and through the influence 
of the worthy priest he was enabled to obtain an audience with the King of 
Spain. But it was five years before King Fer-di-nand would listen and then he 
refused to place any confidence in his scheme. Unable to endure any longer the 
ridicule of the courtiers who made fun of his visionary ideas, he left the court 




THE IN-DIAN. 

in rage and resolved to go to France. Queen Is-a-bel-la however sent a 
messenger after Co-lum-bus and he was induced to return. 

The Queen ofiFered to fit out an expedition at her own expense, and in a 
short time Co-lum-bus was ready to start out on his voyage into the unknown. 
Before departing he secured from Fer-di-nand and Is-a-bcl-la an agreement 



/ 




COLUMBUS AND HIS V0YA6ES 



15 



by which he was to receive one-eighth of the profits of the voyage and also 
by which he was made High-Ad-mi-ral and Vice-roy of the lands he might 
discover. On the third day of August, 1492, he set sail with three ships, 
the San-ta Ma-ri-a, the Pin-ta, and the Ni-na. The voyage was long and 
tedious and the sailors grew discontented, and at length plotted to throw 
Co-lum-bus overboard. He quieted them by saying that he would turn back 
if they did not discover land within three days. Fortunately on the morning 
of the third day land was seen and they sailed toward it. It was ni'ght when 
they finally came to anchor, but early on the following morning Co-lum-bus 




THE THREE CARAVELS. 

landed, magnificently dressed and attended by his officers and sailors all in 
gay attire. This was the fourteenth day of October, 1492. The land that 
Co-lum-bus discovered was probably the island of San Sal-va-dor. On the 
following day he sailed farther on and visited Cu-ba, Hay-ti, and other islands 
of the West In-dies. 

When Co-lum-bus returned to Spain he was received with much honor 
by the King and Queen. When he made his second voyage he had seventeen 
vessels and fifteen hundred men. On this journey he discovered Ja-mai-ca 



COLUMBUS AND HIS VOYAGES. It 

and Por-to Ri-co and founded the colony of Hay-ti. In 1497 A-mer-i-go 
Ves-puc-ci obtained ships and discovered the mainland of the new continent. 
The same year, John Ca-bot, an English merchant, sailed to A-mer-i-ca and 
landed upon the coast of Lab-ra-dor. In the following year, Se-bas-ti-an 
Ca-bot sailed with two ships and three hundred men, and on a later voyage 
discovered Hud-son's Bay. 

In the meantime Co-lum-bus had reached the mainland of South 
A-mer-i-ca, which he explored and then returned to the colony of Hay-ti. 
Here he was arrested by Bob-a-dil-la, a Spanish commissioner, and carried on 
board the ship in chains, which he insisted on wearing until he reached Spain. 
The King and Queen were ashamed when they saw their faithful servant so 
humiliated and ordered him to be released. Co-lum-bus asked to be permitted 
to return to A-mer-i-ca and the request was granted. He landed at Hon- 
du-ras and attempted to form a colony. Finally, two of his ships were lost, 
his crew rebelled, and, broken in spirit, he returned to Spain, where he died 
May 20th, 1506. History gives Co-lum-bus the credit of having discovered 
A-mer-i-ca, although the first white man to set foot on this continent was 
probably Leif E-rik-son, a viking, who landed at Mar-tha's Vine-yard. 





DK SOTO ON THK MARCH. 



CHAPTER II. 

EARLY EXPLORERS. 

When Co-lum-bus made his second voyage there sailed with him a brave 
and gallant gentleman, named Ponce de Le-on, who determined, when the op- 
portunity came, to organize an expedition himself. Accordingly, in 1513, he 
set sail with three ships. Now, strange to say, the ambition of De Le-on was 
not to discover lands or gold. Like a great many persons he did not like the 
idea of growing old, and in some fable of the day he had read of the wonderful 
fountain of youth, from which all who drank would remain forever young. He 
became convinced that this fountain was in the New World. It was on Easter 
Sunday when he first came in sight of land and in honor of the day, which the 
Span-iards call "The Day of Flowers," he named the new land Flor-i-da. He 
had many adventures and in an encounter with the Indians was wounded by 
a poisoned arrow. He returned to Spain, where he died soon afterward. 

About this time, Vas-co Nu-nez de Bal-bo-a crossed the isthmus which 
divides North and South A-mer-i-ca and beheld the Pa-cif-ic O-cean, which he 
, named the South Sea and which he took possession of in the name of the King 
of Spain. In the meantime, Cor-tez had discovered Mex-i-co and Yuc-a-tan. 
In 1 5 19 the King of Por-tu-gal fitted out some ships and placed Ma-gel-lan, 
a noted sailor, in command. Ma-gel-lan passed the In-dies, and sailing south- 
ward explored the coast of South A-mer-i-ca and named the great body of 
water, which Bal-bo-a had called the" South Sea ,the Pa-cif-ic O-cean. 

Her-nan-do de So-to had been given the province of Flor-i-da by the 
King of Spain, and on May 30th, 1537, he landed in Tam-pa Bay. De So-to 
was very ambitious and cruel. His sole desire in coming to A-mer-i-ca was 
to found a great empire. His followers were dressed in magnificent costumes 
and glittering armor. This gorgeous procession traversed the lakes and ever- 
glades of Flor-i-da, but the men were obliged to live on water cresses, shoots 
of In-di-an corn and palmetto leaves. The Span-iards seemed to be actuated 
by a desire to exterminate the In-di-ans. They killed the defenseless natives 

19 



20 



EARLY EXPLORERS. 



and destroyed their wigwams. On one occasion they were met by an In-di-an 
princess who came to them bearing gifts, and who seemed anxious to be friends 
with the whites. Moving gracefully forward to meet the stern Span-ish com- 
mander, she placed around his neck a string of pearls. But her friendliness was 
not appreciated, for she was taken prisoner and her people used as slaves. 




SEBASTIAN CABOT AT LABRADOR. 
' De So-to continued his search for gold and robbing the In-di-ans of what 
treasures they possessed. He explored the Mis-sis-sip-pi River and then travel- 
ed westward almost to the Rock-y Mount-ains. Upon his return he was taken 
sick, while in the swamps of the Mis-sis-sip-pi, and there died. His body was 
placed in a hollow log atid buried at night in the great river. Long afterwards 



22 EARLY EXPLORERS. 

the remainder of his brilHant band of followers reached the Span-ish settlement 
on the Gulf of Mex-i-co. 

In the meantime wonderful stories had come to Mex-i-co of stately cities, 
vvith silver and gold in rich profusion, on the coast of Cal-i-for-ni-a. An expedi- 
tion was sent out, and although they found well-built cities, they discovered 
but little silver or gold. A short time afterwards, Sir Fran-cis Drake, a famous 
Eng-lish voyager, landed upon this coast, but the wonderful wealth of Cal-i- 
for-rii a remained practically unknown \\uU\ two centuries later. 

The discoveries of the Eng-lish and Span-ish voyagers naturally attracted 
the attention of the French. Early in the sixteenth century this nation sent 
out Ver-az-za-no, who reached the shore of North Car-o-li-na where he 
landed and treated with the In-di-ans and then returned home. Ver-az-za-no 
was the first one to give an accurate description of the now continent. Some 
vears later France sent out Jac-»iues Car-ti-or. who landed in New Fountl-land 
but in 1535 he returned and sailed up the St. Law-rence River. The In-di-ans 
received them kindly, but the l-'rench gave a poor return for their hospitality. 
When he was about to return he seized a friendly chiot and nine other In-di-ans 
and carried them to l-'rance. It is said that these unfortunate natives died of 
broken hearts. The French built two forts in 1540 when they returned to found 
their colony, one at the mouth of the St. Law-rence, the other at the mouth 
of the St. Croix. 

At the time of tlie persecution of the Prot-es-tants in France many of 
them tied to llol-land. but laler nuule up their mind to lind shelter in the 
New World. These people were called llu-gue-nots and they founded a 
colony at Port Roy-al, Ma-ry-land, which was commanded by Lau-don-ri-ere, 
but John Ri-bault sailed with supplies and provisions. When the King of 
Spain heard that the I'rench had starteil a colony he sent one of his famous 
generals, Me-nen-dez, against them, who kuuleil in llor-i-da and founded the 
city of St. Au-gus-tine. 

While Ri-bault was at sea his tleet became disabled by a storm and he 
was wrecked on the coast. In the meantime. Me-nen-dez made up his mind 
that Ki-hault had not arrived at Port Roy-al. so marching overland he 
surprised the French at the fort and massacred nearly every one of the 
inhabitants. A few endeavored to make their escape, but were captured and 
hanged. Over these Me-nen-dez put an inscription, which read: "I do not 
this to Frenchmen, but to heretics." Ri-bault and many of his companions 




OLD STONE MILL AT NEWPORT. 



M EARLY EXPLORERS. 

surrendered aftervvards to Me-nen-der And they were inhumanly killed. A few 
preferred to take their chances with In-di-ans and wild beasts rather than with 
the Span-iards, and so went south. About three years afterwards the Frencli 
sent over an expedition under the command of De Gour-gues, who attacked 
the Span-iards and massacred nearly every one of them. The fugitives were 
captured and hung, and, following the example of Me-nen-dez, he put over 
them the following inscription: "1 do not this as unto Span-iards, but as unto 
traitors, robbers, and murderers." 

The Hu-gue-nots, who escaped these terrible massacres, fled to Eng-land 
and the stories they told of the wonderful country from which they had come 
induced Eng-lish navigators to make an attempt to secure the land. They 
had frequently attempted to discover the northwest passage, which Cab-ot had 
failed to find, and in 1578 Sir Fran-cis Drake sailed up the Pa-ci-fic coast as far 
as Wash-ing-ton territory. 

It was in 1576 that Mar-tin Fro-bish-er left Eng-land bent on making im- 
portant discoveries. His first voyage did not amount to much, for about the 
only things he brought back were a few black stones, which he gave to his 
wife as keepsakes. She threw them in the fire, but they turned out to be gold. 
Of course Fro-bish-er at once made up his mind that he only had to return in 
order to find great wealth. He set sail with fifteen ships, which returned 
filled with ore, but, unfortunately, there was no gold in the ore, so their jour- 
ney was a failure. 

In 1583 Sir Humph-rey Gil-bert, a brave and gallant gentleman, with a 
fleet of five ships and a company of two hundred and sixty men, left Eng-land. 
He settled near the mouth of the St. John's River, in New Found-land, and 
attempted to form a colony. But discouraged at the failure to find wealth many 
of Sir Humph-rey's men deserted, and some of them conspired to seize the ves- 
sels. Finally, Sir Humph-rey was obliged to return to Eng-land, but on his 
way the vessel foundered and all on board were drowned. 



CHAPTER III. 

LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 

When James the First was King, there lived in various parts of Eng-land 
a religious sect called the Pu-ri-tans. For years they had been persecuted be- 
cause they refused to submit to the tyranny of the Established Church of Eng- 
l'>nd. Theypreferredasimplegospel and desired only to worship God according 
to their own belief. The Pu-ri-tans were plain, sturdy people and unaccus- 
tomed to luxuries. But they had strong wills, and when they were unable any 
longer to endure persecution, they fled to Hol-land. 

Hearing of the New World, and believing that there they could find an 
asylum, they sent two of their men to Eng-land to see if the King would give 
them a grant of land. After some delay this was obtained, and on August 5th, 
1620, two ships, the Speed-well and the May-flow-er set sail. The Speed- 
well turned back, but the May-flow-er continued on her course. After a 
stormy voyage they arrived at Cape Cod on the ninth day of November. Near- 
ly a month was spent in looking for a spot where they might settle. 

In the meantime they had drawn up articles of agreement in which they 
bound themselves into a political body to enact laws for the good of the colony. 
All the profits in trading, fishing and farming were to go, for a period of seven 
years, into common stock. At the end of that time it was to be divided equally 
among those who had contributed money to the enterprise. 

The Captain of the May-flow-er was impatient to land his passengers and 
return to Eng-land, so on the fifteenth day of December the May-flow-er 
left her harbor at Cape Cod and anchored near Ply-mouth. But it was not until 
the twenty-first of March that the entire company landed. The suff'erings 
of these people were terrible; there was little shelter and few provisions. When 
spring came nearly one-half of the brave little band had perished. Miles 
Stand-ish, the Captain, had lost his wife, as had many of the principal men 
of the company. And, to add to their unfortunate condition, they lived in 
constant fear of the In-di-ans. Truly, it was a perilous time. 

27 



28 



LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 



You can imagine their surprise when one day in the spring an In-di-an 
came walking into the settlement. But he made offers of friendship to the 
white people and established good feeling between them and the In-di-an tribes 
in that vicinity. This In-di-an's name was Sam-o-set,and he introduced them to 
Mas-sas-o-it, the chief of that region. As the fear of an attack from the savages 
wore away and the spring came on the settlers made trips of exploration, 
even going as far as Boston harbor. In November a ship arrived from Eng- 




V^^^i^k^ 



A PURITAN SOLDIER. 



land, bringing a patent issued by the Ply-mouth Company and which legally 
established the Pu-ri-tans. 

The people were very religious, and Governor Brad-ford refused to allow 
them to have any amusement except a little quiet enjoyment. The Nar-ra-gan- 
sett In-di-ans once sent a bundle of arrows tied together with the skin of a rat- 
tlesnake, which was really a declaration of war. Captain Miles Stand-ish filled 
the skin full of bullets and sent it back, so the In-di-ans left them undisturbed. 



LANDING OF THE PILGRIMS. 29 

In 1622 several ruffians, who had in some way been sent to the colony, were 
guilty of several cruel acts against the In-di-ans, who decided to attack the 
colonists. But Mas-sas-o-it happened to be sick at this time, and two delegates 
from the Ply-mouth Company were sent to nurse him and give him medicine. 
The chief recovered and in return for this kindness told the settlers of the plot 
to attack them. Stand-ish went with only eight men and succeeded in per- 
suading the In-di-ans to give up their plans. 

Meanwhile the colony prospered and the days were spent in work, every 
one going to bed soon after sundown. These people were very strict in re- 
gard to church duties, and every one was obliged to attend service on Sunday 
unless they were sick. The sermon was usually three or four hours long, but 
no one, not even a little child,, was allowed to go to sleep, but was prevented 
from doing so by officers with long sticks, who sharply tapped any one who 
nodded. The men were well drilled and carried heavy matchlock muskets, 
which were fired by a slow match. No one was allowed to wear finery unless 
they could well aflford it. They were simple, industrious people. 





IKADINC, W ITH INDIANS. 



CHAPTER IV. 

SETTLEMENTS BY THE DUTCH. 

On the fourth day of August, 1609, a Dutch ship under the command of 
Hen-ry Hud-son, an Enghshman, came to anchor in the bay of New York. 
Hud-son had been sent out by the East In-di-a Com-pa-ny to discover a north- 
west passage to Chi-na. But storms forced him to change his course and on 
July i8th he anchored in Pe-nob-scot Bay. Then turning southward he con- 
tinued on his way until he reached Ches-a-peake Bay. Turning northward 
again he sailed along the coast until he reached a beautiful harbor. Before him 
lay the wooded shores of New York and like a broad silver band tiie noble 
river that was to bear his name threaded its way among the High-lands. 

Realizing that rich and fertile lands lay beyond, he resolved to explore 
this beautiful stream. 

The In-di-ans came in great crowds, bringing com and tobacco as gifts. 
Hud-son realized that the best policy was to make friends with the natives, who 
were willing to trade rich furs in exchange for glass beads and glittering trink- 
ets. At length it was impossible to go farther up the river and Hud-son decided 
to send a part of his crew in small boats. These went as far as the present site 
of Albany. Before Hud-son left he gave a grand banquet to the In-di-an chiefs 
who had befriended him and with whom he had traded. So when it came 
time for him to go the In-di-ans were sorry to lose their white friend. 

Unfortunately, however, they were unable to leave a good impression be- 
hind them, for the cruel murder of two In-di-ans brought on a fight and Hud- 
son set sail for Hol-land. He stopped at Dart-mouth Harbor in Eng-land and 
afterwards entered the service of the Eng-lish government. In 1610 he made 
his last voyage to the northwest when he reached Hud-son's Bay. Here his 
crew mutinied and he and several of his companions were deserted and left to 
perish, 

31 



82 



SETTLEMENTS BY THE DUTCH. 



The discoveries of Hud-son did not attract much attention in Hol-land, 
but its merchants saw an opportunity to make money by trading with the In- 
di-ans. A few buildings were erected on Man-hat-tan Island as a station for 
their wares. It was not long, however, before others followed their example 
and the merchants who had opened the trade, in order to protect their inter- 
ests, obtained a Charter and the name of New Neth-er-lands was given to the 
territory. In 1621 the West In-dia Company secured a charter which gave it 




DUTCHMEN AT AN INN. 

the power to appoint all the officers in the Dutch territory in A-mer-i-ca and to 
make the laws. In 1623, the first ship with settlers sailed from Hol-land, They 
settled on thepresent site of Al-ba-ny, and at once began the erection of houses: 
a few settled at Fort Or-ange, some went north of the Con-nec-ti-cut River, 
while others went to the western end of Long Island. A brisk trade sprang 
up and the settlers began to prosper. The Eng-lish objected to the Dutch set- 



SETTLEMENTS BY THE DUTCH. 



83 



tlements and claimed that they gave nothing in return for the products they 
toot- <o Hol-land. Pe-ter Min-u-et, the Governor, attempted to make friends 
with the Eng-Hsh, but without avail. 

New Jer-sey was setteled by the Swedes in 1637 by a company called the 
Swe-den West In-dia Company. Pe-ter Min-u-et, who had been discharged 
from his post as Governor, was put in charge of the expedition. As soon as he 
arrived he bought of the In-di-ans all the land on the west side of South River 
from Cape Hen-lo-pen to where Trent-on now stands. The Dutch did not 




GOING TO CHURCH. 



like this and told Min-u-et that he was an intruder. But the Swedes made up 
iheir minds to remain and began to build houses and till the soil. In the 
meantime, more settlers came from Swe-den, and, as they were all industrious 
people, the settlement prospered rapidly. Governor Min-u-et died and a 
Swede named Hol-le-an-dare became Governor. Finally a number of New 
Eng-land colonists came into this territory. Wil-liam the Testy, Governor 
3 



SETTLEMENTS BY THE DUTCH. 35 

of the Dutch, objected to this intrusion, and the Swedes joined with them and 
together they forced the Enghshmen to return to their homes. 

When Pe-ter Stuy-ve-sant became Governor he resolved to put an end 
to Swe-dish rule and accordingly made preparations for attacking them. With 
a fleet of seven vessels and over six hundred men he attacked them. But as 
there were only about three hundred Swedes in the whole country they sur- 
rendered at once. Stuy-ve-sant appointed Jo-hans Paul Ja-quet Governor of 
the territory. 

Pe-ter Stuy-ve-sant, the Governor of New Neth-er-lands, was a very 
peculiar man. He had been a very brave soldier and in one of his numerous 
battles he had lost a leg, but in its place wore a wooden one bound with silver. 
He was a very tyrannical man, but ruled the country with firmness and wisdom. 
He imposed heavy taxes upon the people and would not be dictated to by any- 
one. Although he was assisted in the affairs of the colony by a board of nine 
men, they could make no laws and give no orders without his approval. Gov- 
ernor Stuy-ve-sant believed it was policy to keep on good terms with the 
Eng-lish and objected to his people selling the In-di-ans arms and ammuni- 
tion. This was the cause of frequent quarrels between him and the lords of 
the different provinces, who were called patroons. One of the wealthiest 
patroons of New Neth-er-lands was Van Rens-se-laer, who owned a vast ex- 
tent of territory and who proposed to control his own lands. When Gover- 
nor Stuy-ve-sant attempted to take stone and timber from the patroon's land, 
for the purpose of building a fort, the latter objected and drove the Gover- 
nor's men off by force. Some of the quarrels of those early Dutch settlers are 
very amusing. Rut they prospered and were happy. 






■i^CiJ^f^'^ 



CHAPTER V. 
THE OLD DOMINION. 

The reign of Queen E-liz-a-beth was one of the most illustrious in Eng- 
lish history. Among the many distinguished gentlemen that formed her court 
no one was more graceful and gallant than Sir Wal-ter Ra-leigh, the half- 
brother of Sir Humph-rey Gil-bcrt. His introduction to the notice of Queen 
E-Iiz-a-beth was brought about in a very strange manner. Attended by a 
magnificent retinue, she was walking through the gardens of her palace when 
she came upon a muddy place in the path. She stopped and hesitated when 
Sir Wal-ter Ra-leigh, taking of¥ his cloak spread it upon the ground and the 
great Queen passed over without soiling her dainty shoes. This act of gal- 
lantry attracted her attention and with a gracious nod to Sir Walter she 
passed on. 

But Ra-leigh was ambitious, as well as polite, and he resolved that the 
Queen should not forget him if he could help it. A short time after this 
encounter, Sir Wal-ter happened one day to observe the Queen coming toward 
him, as he stood at one of the windows of the palace. Taking the diamond ring 
from his finger he wrote upon the glass: 

"Fain would I climb, but that I fear to fall." 

He then left the palace. On the following day he returned to the same 
place and found that the Queen had written underneath : 

"If thy heart fail thee, do not climb at all." 

Encouraged by this gentle hint. Sir Wal-ter sought the Queen's favor 
and in time became one of her most trusted counsellors. 

He was eager that Eng-land should obtain a foot-hold in the New 
World and he sent a great many ships to A-mer-i-ca at his own expense. 
Finally he attempted to form a colony which he had named Vir-gin-ia in honor 
of Queen E-liz-a-beth. This project was a failure. It is supposed the un- 
fortunate people were all killed by the In-di-ans. Sir Wal-ter Ra-leigh, himself 
was finally accused of treason by his enemies at the court and beheaded. 

37 



38 THE OLD DOMINION. 

When James I. came to the throne he made up his mind to estabHsh a 
colony. He formed two companies, the Lon-don Com-pa-ny and the Ply- 
mouth Com-pa-ny, but it remained for the former to make the first permanent 
settlement. In this company there were one hundred and five men but no 
women. On the seventh day of April, 1607, they sailed into Ches-a-peake Bay. 
They selected a place for the colony wdiich they named James-town in honor 




CHARLES I, OF ENGLAND. 

From the paiutiag by Auton van Dyke. 

of the king. One of the principal men in the colony was John Smith, who 
endeavored to make friends witli the In-di-ans and work for the good of the 
settlement. Upon one of his journeys he was taken prisoner and conducted 
to the chief of the tribe. He knew that his life depended upon his coolness and 
skill. Finally he was taken before the great king, Pow-ha-tan, who received 
him with great ceremony, but to Smith's surprise he was dragged to a great 
stone and where stood several In-di-an braves ready to beat out his brains 
with their enormous war-clubs. Suddenly Po-ca-hon-tas rushed to his rescue 
and threw herself upon his body. Pow-ha-tan was so touched by his daugh- 
ter's act that he at once pardoned Smith. 



THE OLD DOMINION. 39 

Po-ca-hon-tas afterwards became a very fine lady. She was baptized 
and christened La-dy Re-bec-ca and married John Rolfe, an Eng-lish gentle- 
man, who took her to his own country and presented her to the Queen. 
When about to return to A-mer-i-ca she was taken sick and died. 

The colonists endured a great deal of suffering and in a short time had 
been reduced to about forty persons, but men and provisions were sent from 
Eng-land and finally two women came, Mrs. For-rest and her maid, Ann Bur- 
ras. But the people were too lazy to work and would neither hunt, fish, nor till 
the soil, and gradually the colony began to fail. In 1609 a fleet of nine ships, 
carrying five hundred people, left Eng-land. Seven of the ships reached the 
settlement, one of them foundered at sea, and another was wrecked off the 
Bcr-mu-das, and the passengers and crew spent the winter on the island. The 
following year they rejoined their friends in Vir-gin-ia. 

They found the people in an almost starving condition. Sir Thom-as 
Gates made up his mind to return to England, but they heard that Lord de la 
Ware was coming with men and provisions. Upon his arrival he traded with 
the In-di-ans, built two forts, but in a year, owing to sickness, he was obliged 
to return to Eng-land. Shortly afterwards Sir Thom-as Gates, who in the 
meantime had gone to Eng-land, arrived with men and provisions. Sir 
Thom-as decided that the success of the colony depended upon making each 
man look out for himself. So he refused to allow them to live upon the pro- 
visions that had been brought, and declared they must make their own living 
or starve. In the meantime, laws were made and enforced, which had a good 
efifect. The colonists raised corn and tobacco, more men came over from 
Eng-land and the colony prospered. 

In 1 6 19 a Dutch ship brought a cargo of negroes and introduced slavery 
into A-mer-i-ca. Cap-tain Ar-gall, who was Gov-ern-or for a short time, 
destroyed a colony of the French at Port Roy-al in the Bay of Fun-dy, which 
was the beginning of the dif^culties between the French and Eng-lish. 

Lord de la Ware was appointed Gov-ern-or of the colony in place of 
Ar-gall, but he rlied on his way to A-mer-i-ca. Then Sir George Yeard-ley was 
put in charge and by giving the colonists self-government, the settlement 
began to improve. On July 30th, the first legislative assembly met in this 
country. It had twenty-two representatives, a governor, and a council. Finally 
one hundred Eng-lish maidens offered to come to the colony as wives for the 
young men. Within a year over one thousand persons had arrived. 




ARRIVAL OF SIR WALTER RALEIGH. 



THE OLD DOMINION. 41 

On the twenty-second of March, 1692, James-town was attacked by the 
In-di-ans and a large number of people were killed. But the settlers soon 
recovered from this calamity and revenged themselves upon the In-di-ans 
with great severity. Finally the king decided to send a royal governor, Sir 
John Har-vey, who should administer such laws as were enacted by the Eng- 
lish Gov-ern-ment. 

In the meantime, Lord Bal-ti-more had visited the Vir-gin-ia colony 
and afterwards Ches-a-peake Bay. Upon his return to Eng-land he asked the 
king for a grant of land in this locality, but before the patent was signed, Lord 
Bal-ti-more died. His son, however carried out his plans anil named the coun- 
try Ma-ry-land 

At the time this colony was formed the Cath-o-lics were greatly perse- 
cuted in Eng-land and, as Lord Bal-ti-more was a member of that faith, he 
resolved that Ma-ry-land should be a refuge for them. In dealing with the 
In-di-ans they endeavored to treat them kindly and in return the natives taught 
them how to plant and hunt and a great many other things which was of great 
benefit to the colonists. The Vir-gin-ians had lost their royal chartar and 
knowing that Ma-ry-land had Been founded with the authority of the king they 
became jealous of their Cath-o-lic neighbors. So they sent a protest to Eng- 
land against the settlement of Ma-ry-land, but all the answer they received was 
that they must be friendly to the Ma-ry-land colonists. 

Meanwhile the colony had grown, brick houses were built, large grants 
of land were made, and flour mills and other industries were started. In fact, 
Ma-ry-land put the other colonists to shame. When the revolution against the 
king came in England, it created some disturbance in this colony. The Prot- 
es-tants who had settled there were in favor of the Par-lia-ment, while the 
Cath-o-lics were for the king. Wil-liam Clay-borne, Sec-re-tary of the Vir- 
gin-ia Council, endeavored to stir up discord between the Prot-es-tants and the 
Cath-o-lics and for a time there was trouble, but finally the people saw that 
they were more prosperous under the government of Leon-ard Cal-vert, Lord 
Bal-ti-more's brother, so they drove out Clay-borne and Ma-ry-land returned 
to its former condition of peace and prosperity. 




CHARLES II. OF ENGLAND. 



CHAPTER VI. 
THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. 

In the month of June, 1629, six vessels containing four hundred and 
six men, women, and children, one hundred and forty head of cattle, forty 
i^oats and a large quantity of provisions, arms and various kinds of implements, 
loft Eng-land and arrived at Sa-lem, Mas-sa-chu-setts. They were Pur-i-tans 
who had protested against the Church of Eng-land and who desired to worship 
(lod after their own custom. They had left Eng-land under the royal patent 
of the Mas-sa-chu-setts Bay Com-pa-ny. The Gov-ern-or of the colony was 
John Endicott, a very strict man, and he started out to form an independent 
colony. He did not think it right the settlers should be governed by an Eng- 
lish council or by a corrupt court, so the colonists asked for a change of gov- 
ernment and were given permission to make their own laws. John Win-throp 
was made gov-ern-or with six men as council. At the time of his election he 
was in Eng-land but he sailed at once and arrived at the colony where he 
found the people in a very unfortunate condition. But in a short time over one 
thousand persons arrived and villages began to spring up along the coast. 
On Bos-ton Com-mon they found a spring of water and a settlement was made 
which was the beginning of that great city. 

The people were not accustomed to the New Eng-land climate and there 
was consequently a great deal of sickness. So many died that a day was set 
apart for fasting and prayer. As if in answer to their appeal a ship appeared 
with provisions and drugs which the people sadly needed. On this vessel came 
a young man by the name of Ro-ger Wil-liams. He was a very well educated 
person but very frank in expressing his opinion. He believed that the church 
and state should be kept separate and openly declared that no magistrate had 
any right to punish anyone for breaking the Sab-bath. He was chosen min- 
ister of the Bos-ton church but En-di-cott would not allow him to preach, so 
he was obliged to go to Ply-mouth. Although he had many followers, En-di- 

48 




'^m^ 



CAPTAIN" JOHN SMITH. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. 45 

cott and others accused him of being a heretic and finally he fled lo the woods 
and lived with the In-di-ans. 

Ca-non-i-cus, Chief of the Nar-ra-gan-setts, gave him a tract of land 
but Wil-liams gave away the land in order that those who were persecuted like 
himself, miglit find a refuge. So he called the land Prov-i-dence because he 
believed that God had delivered him from his enemies. Finallv others joined 
Wil-liams in his colony and among these was Ann Hutch-in-son, a very re- 
markable woman and one who did not believe in the strict religious laws of 
En-di-cott. Finally the new colony obtained a charter under the name of 
Rhode Is-land and Prov-i-dence Plan-ta-tion. 

The Pur-i-tans and the In-di-ans did not agree very well, however, and 
a tribe who inhabited Block Is-land murdered a prominent man by the name 
of Old-ham. En-di-cott with about one hundred men sailed from Bos-ton to 
Block Is-land and killed nearly all of their number. This made the other tribes 
very angry and had it not been for Ro-ger Wil-liams the In-di-ans would have 
joined together to fight the Pur-i-tans. Then the Pe-quot In-di-ans murdered 
one of the settlers and ninety men under the command of Captain John Ma-son 
with a body of Mo-he-gan In-di-ans attacked the Pe-quot villages and killed 
over one thousand savages. Then the Nar-ra-gan-setts and Mo-he-gans united 
and in five months this great tribe was destroyed. 

It was the people dwelling in the Con-nec-ti-cut valley who suffered the 
most from these In-di-an wars so it was important that they should band 
themselves together. They adopted a constitution which recognized no power 
save their own, m which all were free and equal and entitled to the same 
rights. The laws were strict, almost too strict, but Con-nec-ti-cut became a 
powerful and independent colony. In 1643 the people of Mas-sa-chu-setts, 
Ply-mouth, Con-nec-ti-cut and New Haven joined themselves together so that 
m case of war they could defend themselves against their enemies. The name 
of this Uh-ion was the U-nit-ed Col-o-nies of New Eng-land. Strange as it 
may seem although the Mas-sa-chu-setts Bay colonists had come to A-mer-i-ca 
m order that they might be allowed to worship God after their own manner, 
they insisted that every one else should obey their own religious laws. Those 
who did not believe as they did, or showed any disposition to be independent 
were persecuted and driven from among them. Among others, Sam-u-el Gor- 
ton had dared to defend a servant who had accidentally smiled in church and 
who on that account was declared a heretic. Besides, Gor-ton himself had re- 




OLIVER CROMWELL. 

cut ou wood, in imitation of the mezzotint of I. Faber, 1740. Painting by P. Lely . 1653. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. 



47 



Ijgious theories of his own and this in the eyes of the good people of the colony 
was rank rebellion, so the poor man was expelled to finally found his way to 
the settlement of Ro-ger Wil-liams. Here he bought land and made prepara- 
tions to remain. 



* 


Z- ^' ' *^-' 


:^l 


'§J;i: '^W,^ t 




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WmSj^ ' 1 ^' ^ 


: ■ ':\^0m^,,- 


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#^k, '■^ Jt^ 



NATHANIEL BACON, 

After a time trouble broke out between the followers of Gor-ton and his 
neighbors which ended in a victory of the latter and Gor-ton and his friends 
moved away in search of a new place. They settled about twelve miles south of 
Prov-i-dence. Before leaving Gor-ton sent a letter to the magistrates at Bos- 
ton which contained his religious belief. The magistrates declared the letter to 



tHE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. 4i) 

be blasphemous and Gor-ton and his followers were ordered to appear before 
the court at Bos-ton, but they refused. 

A band of soldiers and In-di-ans charged upon their village, their 
houses were destroyed, their cattle were driven ofif, their wives and children 
were forced to seek shelter in the woods. Gor-ton and his men were finally 
forced to yield and were taken captives to Bos-ton. For a long time they 
were kept in prison but many who had already heard their doctrine, openly 
expressed themselves in their favor and Governor Win-throp finally set them 
free. Finally they succeeded in getting an order from King Charles which 
secured them the land on which they had settled, and in 1644 a royal charter 
was obtained by Ro-ger Wil-liams which covered the whole of the Prov-i- 
dence Plan-ta-tion. 

John Clark was the pastor of the Baptist Church at New-port, Rhode 
Is-land. The Baptists had also been exiled from Mas-sa-chu-setts but were 
under the protection of Ro-ger Wil-liams. It so happened that Clark with two 
other Baptist ministers named Holmes and Cran-dall went to visit one of 
their faith who was old, sick and blind. They were arrested for daring to 
preach their religion in Mas-sa-chu-setts. They were sentenced to be whipped 
or pay a fine. Clark and Cran-dall were released on payment of a fine but 
Holmes was given thirty strokes with a three corded whip. When the sherifif 
had finished his task Holmes turned to him and said: "You have struck me as 
with roses." 

In the meantime another sect had incurred the displeasure of the Bos- 
ton church — the Qua-kers. They were the followers of George Fox, a man 
whose life was above reproach. The doctrine of the Qua-kers or Friends, as 
they were sometimes called, was to be at peace with all the world, to put aside 
earthly vanity, and to dress in plain garb of gray. They insisted upon in- 
terrupting the preacher whenever they heard a remark that did not meet their 
approval. They were opposed to war and bloodshed. 

The first Qua-kers to arrive in Boston were Mary Fish-er and Ann 
Aus-tin, who were imprisoned immediately upon their arrival. They were 
searched and all of their books and tracts were taken from them. They were 
examined for signs of witchcraft, but as no moles or freckles were foimd upon 
them they were cleared of that charge, and sent back to the Bar-ba-does. An 
old gentleman living in Bos-ton had given the jailer money to feed them while 
they were confined and to punish him the judges ordered him arrested and 




ARE THE INDIANS COMING? 



THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. 



51 



thrown into jail. Upon his release he was exileJ and the poor old man was 
obliged to live with the In-di-ans. In the meantime eight other Qua-kers had 
arrived from Lon-don and these were arrested but afterward were forced to 
return. A law was afterwards passed which prohibited the master of any 
ship from bringing Qua-kers to New England. 




A PURITAN GIRL. 

It hardly seems possible that people who had left their own country 
and braved the perils of a life in the new world and who were themselves of 
strict and religious habits, should treat those who differed from them in re- 
ligious belief with more cruelty than they had endured in the old world. 







A FRIENDLY INDIAN. 



THE MASSACHUSETTS BAY COLONY. 53 

Law-rence and Cas-san-dra South-wick were banished from the colony and 
their two children were left behind almost starving. Finally they were ordered 
to be sold as slaves but no sea captain would take them away from Bos-ton, 
so they were allowed to remain. 

A young girl named Ma-ry Dy-er was arrested and thrown into prison 
for visiting some Oua-kers who were in jail. She was banished but returned 
to Bos-ton again to visit the persecuted Friends and was sentenced to be 
hung. Just as the executioner had put the noose around her neck her son 
arrived with a reprieve. She was again banished and in a few months re- 
turned to Bos-ton. In spite of the appeal of her husband and her friends 
she was led to the Com-mon and hung there, as the judges said, for others 
to take example by. Finally the king of Eng-land put a stop to these cruelties 
and the persecutions ceased for awhile but they were revived later and men 
and women were frequently tied to the end of a cart and whipped from town 
to town. The king finally issued an order that all persons living in Mas-sa- 
chu-setts and Con-nec-ti-cut should be allowed to worship God as they 
pleased. 





THE FIFE OF FEACE. 



CHAPTER VII. 
THE VIRGINIA COLONY. 

Southern hospitality is famed the country over and Vir-gin-i-ans have a 
law, which had been handed down to them from tlie early days, that a stranger 
coming to a house is to be treated as a guest. After King Charles I. had been 
beheaded and Crom-well was ruler in his stead the followers of the king were 
obliged to leave Eng-land, so they came to the new world and although their 
clothes were ragged and their pockets were empty they still retained their 
polite manners and lordly ways. 

After Gov-er-nor Har-vey had been sent by the king to govern Vir- 
gin-i-a the colonists of Mary-land and Vir-gin-i-a continued to quarrel with 
each other. Gov-er-nor Har-vey was succeeded by Sir Fran-cis Wy-at and he 
m time by Sir Wil-liam Berk-e-ley, who came to James-town in 1642. Under 
his wise and kindly rule the colony prospered but the In-di-ans were ignored 
and treated as savages. It was even declared that it was right to shoot an 
In-di-an whenever he was seen. The In-di-ans failed to see the justice of 
this law, and surprising the villages killed nearly five hundred colonists. The 
Vir-gin-i-ans revenged the murder of their countrymen and the In-di-ans 
were driven into the interior, many were killed or taken prisoners and their 
chief was shot. 

In the mean-time the colonists had seen that their prosperity depended 
upon industry and in time they learned to raise tobacco, which was their chief 
export, and hemp, flax and cotton. They learned how to make indigo and 
bricks and every ship that left port took large cargoes of native products and 
brought back Eng-lish goods in return. 

Vir-gin-i-a had denounced the execution of Charles I. so Crom-well 
sent a regiment of soldiers to demand the surrender of the Vir-gin-i-a colonies. 
A government was established and Wil-liam Clay-bourne and Rich-ard Ben- 
nett were put in command. They were both very kind and their rule was 

65 




CO 

< 
(-1 

2 
w 

H 



THE VIRGINIA COLONY. 57 

gentle. Clay-bourne, however, did not forget his old troubles with Mary-land 
and finally an order was issued which declared tlfa't* Mary-land belonged to 
Crom-well, so removing the Cath-o-lic officers a board of Pur-i-tan commis- 
sioners was put in control. There were frequent encounters between the 
Mary-land-ers and the Vir-gin-i-ans and at length Cromwell sent a letter for- 
bidding the Vir-gin-ians to interfere with the affairs of the Cath-o-lic settle- 
ment. Lord Bal-ti-more was given permission to send a deputy governor 
and finally the laws of Mary-land were ratified by the Eng-lish government. 
But there still remained two political parties in Vir-gin-i-a. 

After the death of Crom-well the power of the Pur-i-tans began to 
reign and when "the king came to his own again" and Charles II. ascended 
his throne again the royalist party of Vir-gin-i-a became the ruling power and 
Sir Wil-liam Berk-e-ley was made governor. Gov-ern-or Berk-e-ley allowed 
the Pur-i-tans to retain their offices and the colony of Vir-gin-i-a continued to 
prosper. 

Slaves were imported from Af-ri-ca and a law was made condemning 
all children of mixed blood to remain slaves for life. The Church of Eng-land 
became the established church of the colony and although the Pur-i-tans were 
not persecuted they were not allowed to preach. 

In 1670 there were 40,000 people living in Vir-gin-i-a; of these 40,000, 
2,000 were slaves and 6,000 were white servants apprenticed for a number 
of years. The colony did not increase rapidly in population because many 
unused to the climate died soon after their arrival, although every year about 
2,000 white servants were brought over from Eng-land. The planters made 
very little money owing to the fact that the price of tobacco had been re- 
duced in Eng-land and the goods sent in exchange had been placed at ex- 
orbitant prices. In 1673 the colony was given as a present by the king, to two 
of his favorites, Lord Cul-pep-per and the Earl of Ar-ling-ton. In the mean- 
time trouble with the In-di-ans broke out and a number of tribes united to 
defend themselves against the whites. In Ma-ry-land and Vir-gin-i-a the plant- 
ers lived in constant dread and finally formed an expedition to attack the In- 
di-ans. The old story of the inhumanity of the whites towards the natives 
was repeated and the In-di-ans resolved upon revenge. Many of the colonists 
were killed upon their plantations and there was never a moment when any one 
felt safe. Finally a young man named Na-than-i-el Ba-con, who owned a 
plantation near Rich-mond and whose overseer had been slain by the In-di-ans, 




THE CHARTER OAK. 



THE VIRGINIA COLONY. 



59 



resolved to put an end to these massacres. Governor Berk-e-ley, who did not 
wish any war with the natives because he was afraid of injuring the trade, 
ordered Ba-con, who had already set out on his expedition, to return. Ba-con 
refused and in a short time he and his followers had exterminated one of the 
principal tribes. Pleased with his success Ba-con marched to James-town at 
the head of five hundred men, and demanded a commission to organize a 
campaign against the In-di-ans. For a long time the governor was obstinate 
but finally he consented. 




After Ba-con had gone Berk-e-ley declared him to be a rebel and pro- 
claimed him an outlaw. When Ba-con heard of this he promptly returned 
only to find that the governor had fled. Ba-con at once organized a new 
government, calling a convention for the revision of the laws. In the mean- 
time Berk-e-ley had obtained possession of an armed fleet and as soon as the 
royalists saw that he might be successful they joined his forces and James- 
town was retaken. Ba-con assembled his army again and throwing up some 



..>4>-- 




ATTACKING THE BLOCK HOUS£ 



THE VIRGINIA COLONY. 61 

breastworks near the city he awaited the attack of the governor. But the 
attack never came and on the following morning when Ba-con entered James- 
town he found it deserted. He made up his mind that the indolent and proud 
followers of Berk-e-ley should have no excuse for returning so he ordered the 
city to be burnt. 

Ba-con admitted his warfare against the In-di-ans but soon afterward 
died. When Berk-e-ley heard of this and no longer had anything to fear he 
sent out an armed force which captured or killed most of Ba-con's friends. 
But the seeds sown by Ba-con had already borne good fruit for he had taught 
the people to resist oppression and stand up for their own rights. Berk-e-ley 
was ordered to return to Eng-land, wncie ne shortly afterward died. 

When Charles II. was restored to his throne he gave to certain gentle- 
men of his court that tract of land which included the present states of 
North and South Car-o-li-na. These dashing cavaliers at once made prepa- 
rations to found a model settlement. The constitution was prepared by John 
Locke, the famous philosopher and statesman. Eight proprietors were to be 
made Lords of the province; the eldest to be called the Pal-a-tie. There 
were to be seven other ofificers, namely: Admiral, chamberlain, chancellor, 
constable, chief-justice, high steward and treasurer. All the rights of property 
were hereditary in the male line. There were orders of hereditary called land- 
iories and every seigniory barony and colony contained 12,000 acres, 
graves and cassiques. The domains of the proprietors were to be called seign- 
while each colony contained four hundred and eighty thousand acres of which 
three-fifths were to be owned by the people and two-fifths by the nobility. The 
common people were prohibited from entering into the titled class, and the 
highest dignity to which a man of the people might aspire was to become lord 
of the manor. There were eight supreme courts and a parliament which was 
regulated by very elaborate laws. The amusements, the fashions, even the 
marriages and funerals were systematically arranged. 

It took Locke three years to prepare this system of government, and 
in the mean-time two colonies had been established in Car-o-li-na. In 1664 
Sir John Yea-mans brought over the first expedition, and as the territory be- 
came settled the people set to work to make more simple and practical laws 
than those of the "Grand Model," which were finally rejected in 1698. 

Sir Wil-liam Berk-e-ley of Vir-gin-i-a formed a colony of Al-be-marle 
and Wil-liam Sayle was commissioned governor of that part of Car-o-li-na 




w 

O 

O 
< 

in 

O 
O 

Pi 
H 
<; 

PL, 



THE VIRGINIA COLONY. 



63 



lying south and west of cape Ro-maine, which was called Charles-ton. The 
rule of Yea-mans was very unpopular and he was finally succeeded by Jo-seph 
West, under whose management the colony began to prosper. Al-be-marle 
was unfortunate in its governors, who could not manage the people. These 
difficulties were finally overcome by the appointment of one governor for 




PURITANS BUILDING HOMES. 
North and South Car-o-li-na. Phil-lip Lud-well was the first general governor 
but he was unequal to the task and so Thom-as Smith, a Car-o-lin-i-an, 
succeeded him. But it was not until John Arch-dale, a Qua-ker, was put at the 
head of the government, that the colony became fully established. Geor-gi-a 
was settled in 1732 and in 1752 became a royal province. 




ON THE HUDSON. 



CHAPTER Vin. 
THE END OF THE DUTCH RULE. 

Under the stern but kindly rule of Peter Stuy-ve-sant, New Am-ster- 
dam prospered. But while the old one-legged governor was fighting with the 
Swedes the In-di-ans fell upon the settlements of Pa-vo-ni-a and Ho-bo-ken, 
killed the men and carried off the women and children as prisoners. These 
Jn-di-an attacks occurred at frequent intervals till finally the easy-going 
Dutchmen resolved to teach the savages a lesson, which they did and for a 
time there was comparative quiet. 

For a time the Qua-kers were persecuted as in the New Eng-land 
settlements and Governor Stuy-ve-sant was anxious that they should be ex- 
pelled from the Dutch settlements. For this the directors in Hol-land re- 
buked him and the Friends were no longer annoyed. In the mean-time slaves 
were brought in large numbers to New Neth-er-land. 

There was one fact which the Dutch observed with alarm and that 
was that Eng-Hsh settlers were gradually encroaching on the land claimed by 
the Dutch. Lord Bal-ti-more declared that a supposed south river region was 
included in his patent and sent a delegation to Ma-ry-land demanding its sur- 
render. John Win-throp obtained a grant of land from Charles H. which 
covered not only Long Is-land but the northern part of New Neth-er-land. 
The Eng-lish bought land from the In-di-ans which the Dutch had already 
purchased from them and the king gave grants of land which included the 
territory occupied by the Dutch. In 1664 Colonel Rich-ard Nich-olls sailed 
from Eng-land with a force of four hundred men, to enforce the claims of the 
Duke of York, to whom the king had granted Long Is-land. He brought 
his four ships up the bay before New Am-ster-dam, seized the block house on 
Sta-ten Is-land and blockaded the harbor. He issued a proclamation stating 
that no one would be harmed who declared allegiance to the King of Eng-land. 
Stuy-ve-sant endeavored to persuade his people to resist but they could see 
nothing except defeat and stubbornly refused to fight. On September 8, 1664, 

5 .65 




KING PHILIP. 



THE END OF THE DUTCH RULE. 



67 



New Neth-er-land surrendered and was re-named New York, while Port 
Orange was given its present name of Al-ba-ny. 

The Duke of York gave many grants of land to Eng-lishmen. New 
Neth-er-land was divided into two provinces, one of which was given to Lord 
Berk-e-ley, the elder brother of Sir Wil-liam Berk-e-ley of Vir-gin-i-a, and the 




PURITAN CHILDRKN, 

Other to Sir George Car-te-rett. Car-te-rett's province was named New 
Jer-sey. 

Nich-olis ruled as governor for about three years and was then suc- 
ceeded by Colonel Fran-cis Love-lace. In 1672 Pe-ter Stuy-vc-sant died. 




BENJAMIN FRANKLIN. 



THE END OF THE DUTCH RULE. 69 

On August 7, 1673, twenty-three Dutch ships carrying sixteen hundred 
men arrived in tlic harbor of New York. The Dutch commander demanded 
instant surrender and when the Eng-Hsh requested that they be allowed to 
treat with him, he turned an hour-glass over and quietly told them that if they 
did not surrender within half an hour, he would open fire. He did as he 
promised and receiving no answer he fired on the fort, killing and wounding 
many people. The fort then surrendered and the Dutch took possession. 
Dutch names were restored to cities, rivers, forts and bays and An-tho-ny 
Clove was chosen governor. Two ships were left him for protection and then 
the fleet sailed away. Peace was made between Eng-land and Hol-land, who 
had been at war for some time and the Dutch gave up their possessions in the 
new world to the Eng-lish, Eng-lish names were restored and Ed-mund 
An-dros was appointed governor. 

Under Eng-lish rule New York took on a more rapid growth. Wheat 
and tobacco were largely cultivated; while fish, peltry and lumber were ex- 
ported abroad. 

The affairs in the colonies were greatly influenced by the situation in 
the mother country. The Duke of York had become King of Eng-land, but 
had been obliged to leave the kingdom and Wil-liam and Ma-ry, the Pro-tes- 
tants had been proclaimed King and Queen, King James had been a Cath-o- 
lic and the Eng-lish of New York were members of that faith. The Dutch in- 
habitants of New York were in sympathy with Wil-liam and Ma-ry. Nich- 
ol-son, the lieutenant governor, who ruled in place of Sir Ed-mund An-dros, 
who had been deposed, did not like the situation so he resigned his position 
and sailed for Eng-land. Every one seemed to be afraid to assume command 
at this time ; but a man named Ja-cob Leis-ler, who was captain of the militia, 
called his soldiers together and made them sign a declaration stating that the)» 
held the fort for Wil-liam and Ma-ry and would protect the Prot-es-tant re- 
ligion. The councU were very much frightened and fled from New York 
leaving Lais-ler in complete control. 

Now when King James fled from Eng-land he went to France, where 
he was the guest of Louis XIV. King Louis sent word to Fron-te-nac, 
governor of Can-a-da, ordering him to search among the inhabitants of New 
York and send all French Prot-es-tants to France and all Eng-lish Prot-es- 
tants of New Eng-land or other places. The French Cath-o-lics were to be 
pillowed to remain. In Feb-ru-a-ry, 1669, Fron-te-nac assembled a large body 




w ^ 

2 >> 



to 
o 

w 
w 

Q 



THE END OF THE DUTCH RULE. 71 

of men and divided them into three parties. His plan was to attack Al-ba-ny, 
New Hamp-shire and Maine at the same time. A part of the force was com- 
posed of Ir-o-quois and these were afraid to attack Al-ba-ny and induced the 
French to march upon Sche-nec-ta-dy. It was a total surprise, for there 
had been a merry making in the village and the entrance to the fort was un- 
guarded save by two snow men which had been erected by the boys and girls 
during the day. Nearly every one was slain and the village was burned. 

The people in the other towns became alarmed at this and banded 
themselves together to resist the French. On May i, 1690, a colonial con- 
verse met, when it was agreed that New York should provide four hundred 
men; Mas-sa-chu-setts one hundred and sixty; Con-nec-ti-cut one hundred 
and thirty-five; Ply-mouth sixty, and Ma-ry-land one hundred. Leis-ler 
showed himself to be the right man in the right place. He rebuilt the fortifi- 
cations of New York, he captured some French cruisers and succeeded in put- 
ting the colonies in a state of security. 

Then King Wil-Ham sent over Colonel Hen-ry Slaught-er as governor. 
Slought-er's first act was to issue a warrant for the arrest of Leis-ler and 
his council. The political enemies of this brave man saw in this a chance to 
ruin him so one day when Slought-er was under the influence of wine, he 
was induced to sign the death warrant of Leis-ler. Slought-er's rule lasted 
only four months, when he was succeeded by Ben-ja-min Fletch-er, who at- 
tempted to assume control over the New Eng-land colonies, as well as his 
own. Holding a charter from the home government they naturally protested 
against this and even sent representatives to Eng-land to complain against 
this tyranny. At one time Fletch-er went to Hart-ford and ordered the militia 
to assemble. Governor Treat refused to allow Fletch-er to take command of 
the soldiers, but allowed them to muster at Hart-ford. Fletch-er gave orders 
that his instructions from the King be read aloud to the troops. Captain 
Wads-worth, who was in command, at once gave orders for the drums to be 
beaten. They made such a noise that not a word could be heard. Fletch-er 
grew very angry and insisted that the drums should cease, but Wads-worth 
was master of the situation and finally Fletch-er had to retire, and return to 
New York. 

The rule of Fletch-er was dishonest and tyrannical, and he was finally 
dismissed from ofifice and the Earl of Bell-o-mont succeeded him. The new 
governor succeeded in reforming the government, and during his administra- 




A FARMER'S HUT IX .WINTESL 



THE END OF THE DUTCH RULE. 73 

tion New York enjoyed a season of prosperity. He died in 1701, and Lord 
Corn-bu-ry was appointed governor. Corn-bu-ry was a very worthless man. 
He used the public funds for his own enjoyment and his administration was a 
long series of debaucheries. He persecuted the Pres-by-te-ri-ans and insulted 
the Oua-kers and abused every one. Finally he was recalled by Queen Anne, 
who was then on the throne. Lord Love-lace was next appointed Governor, 
but he lived only a short time, and was succeeded by Rob-ert Hunt-er. He in 
turn was succeeded by Bur-net, who ruled until 1727, when he was removed. 
The next governor died soon after his arrival, and finally in 1732 Colonel 
Cos-by was sent over to take charge of the Colony. 

It was during the rule of the Earl of Bell-o-mont that the famous 
pirate, Captain Kidd, was the terror of the seas. During the administration of 
Fletch-er commerce had become almost an impossibility, owing to these sea 
rovers, who preyed upon defenseless ships. Bell-o-mont determined to get rid 
of these men, and his plan was to form a stock company for the purpose of 
capturing pirate vessels. Several noblemen, and even the king himself, were to 
share in the profits, and Captain Kidd was put in command. But Kidd was 
unable to take any of these ships, so after many adventures he finally con- 
cluded to become a pirate on his own account, which he did for many years. 
To the surprise of everyone he sailed into New York harbor one day, but 
Bell-o-mont did not arrest him because Captain Kidd told him that he was 
innocent of all the crimes of which he had been accused. When he went to 
Bos-ton, however, he was seized and thrown into jail, but he was afterwards 
sent to Eng-land, where he was imprisoned for a year. Soon after this he was 
hanged for the murder of a gunner, whom he had accidentally killed. His life 
had been full of adventure, but -he was probably not as bad a man as he has 
been represented. 





UNEXPLORED REGIONS. 



CHAPTER IX. 
PERIL AND HARDSHIP. 

Charles, the First, tried to keep the Pur-i-tans from leaving Eng-land. 
He even forced them to return to land, after they had taken passage in a ship, 
which was to sail for Mas-sa-chu-setts. This turned out very unfortunately for 
him, for one of the men who had taken passage for the New World and who 
was forced to return was Ol-i-ver Crom-well. Not long after this the king was 
beheaded, and Crom-well became ruler. 

Crom-well did everything in his power to help the people of Mas-sa- 
chu-setts. When Charles II was restored to the throne, two men who had 
been convicted of taking part in the death of his father made their escape to 
A-mer-i-ca. I'he king demanded their immediate return, but the people 
refused. The king then demanded that the charter be returned, but the people 
told him that they were loyal to the home government and all they wished was 
that the king should confirm the charter. This was granted but some hard 
conditions were imposed upon them. 

A few years later the king sent over commissioners to secure the con- 
quest of New Neth-er-land and to force the obedience of the Mas-sa-chu-setts 
Colony. The people of Mas-sa-chu-setts refused to swear allegiance to the 
king except under the protection of the charter. In the meantime New 
Hamp-shire and Maine were included in the government of Mas-sa-chu-setts. 

The colony was loyal to the home government and did everything in 
its power to show this. But there were may people who complained to the 
king that the people of Mas-sa-chu-setts were tired of Eng-lish rule. In 1681 
he issued an order that deputies should be sent to him to tender the submission- 
of the colony. In answer Mas-sa-chu-setts sent two men to Eng-land bearing 
letters of such a character that the king issued a writ against the colony 
practically claiming that it had no legal charter. 

When Charles II. died his brother James became King of Eng-land and 
by his command Sir Ed-mund An-dros was made governor of all New Eng- 

75 




SCOUTS, 



PERIL AND HARDSHIP. 77 

land. An-dros was a very proud man who believed that obedience to the king 
was the first duty of the people. They naturally were angry at the loss 
of their charter but when the general court was abolished and Pur-i-tan 
principles were ignored their rage knew no bounds. The new governor levied 
heavy taxes. Forced the land owners to give up their title to him for 
examination and even told them that deeds from the In-di-ans were not worth 
a penny. In the same manner he tyrannized over the people of New Hamp- 
shire and Maine and then turned his attention to Con-nec-ti-cut. 

He demanded the charter but the people protested. Then a council was 
held with the royal governor and while it was in progress the chaiter disap- 
peared: It had been hidden in an oak tree on the grounds of one of the 
magistrates. 5ut like New York and New Jer-sey Con-nec-ti-cut became a 
part of New Eng-land under the government of An-dros. When King James 
fled from Eng-land and Wil-liam of Or-ange ascended the throne there was 
great rejoicing. The power of the Stuarts was at an end and the people were 
freed from royal rule. Sir Wil-liam Phips was made governor of New Eng- 
land and although he was a good man he did not make a wise governor. He 
was recalled to Eng-land, where he died in 1694. 

The year 1692 was a memorable one in the history of New Eng-land, 
for it was then that the people were carried away by the delusion of witch- 
craft. The craze originated with some children who had been listening to 
stories Trom an old slave. The madness spread until finally many prominent 
people were accused of being bewitched. All that it was necessary was some 
peculiarity about a person's appearance to arouse suspicions. People that had 
moles upon them or any other mark would be accused and thrown into 
prison. Finally one of the children confessed that they had been deceiving the 
people, but her companions accused her of being a witch. The time came 
at last when the people began to see that they had been imposed upon and the 
craze came to a sudden end. But in the meantime several hundred people had 
been imprisoned and about twenty had suffered death. 

In reading the history of a colony one can hardly blame the In-di-ans 
for being enemies of the white men. They were treated unjustly, even cruelly. 
Their friendship was repaid with treachery and the simple savage was made 
the victim of his own ignorance. When Mas-sas-o-it died he left two 
sons, Al-ex-an-der and Phil-ip. A year later Al-ex-an-der was carried prisoner 
to Ply-mouth because he was suspected of having conspired with the Nar-ra- 




GEORGE WASHINGTON IN HIS YOUTH. 
After the painting by C. W. Pealc. and the engraving of J. W. Paradise. 



fERIL AND HARDSHIP. 7d 

gan-setts to attack the Eng-lish, but he died before reaching his destination. 
His wife who was a queen among the In-di-ans always believed that her hus- 
band had been poisoned, and when fourteen years later she heard that Phil-ip 
was planning to attack the settlements she attempted to join him with three 
hundred warriors. In less than a year nearly all of her braves had been 
killed and the queen in attempting to swim a river was drowned. 

Phil-ip was a man of noble character and had always treated the white 
man with justice, but when he was forced to undergo humiliation his natural 
love of justice asserted itself and he made preparations for war. 

One beautiful June day in 1675 as the people of Swan-sea were return- 
ing home from church a man was killed by an In-di-an in ambush. This was 
the beginning of what is known in history as King Phil-ip's war. It was a 
season of terror, desolation and death. Houses were burned, cattle were 
driven away, men, women and children were murdered by the In-di-ans, and 
yet in spite of the dangers that threatened the people it seemed as though God 
kept them from being destroyed. At Brook-field men, women and children had 
just time enough to rush into the strong house of the settlement when three 
hundred savages rushed into the village and burned every house except the one 
where the people had fled. Then followed a terrible battle. The In-di-ans 
surrounded the house, firing from all sides. At night they built fires against 
the walls of the building and thrust torches through the cracks in the logs and 
shot burning arrows on to the roof. But the desperate people put out the 
fires and kept the savages at bay. On the morning of the third day the In- 
di-ans piled a cart with hay and set it on fire, then pushed it up against the 
building. The brave people inside prepared to die but deliverance was at hand. 
Just as they had given up all hope there came a terrible storm and the rain 
poured down in torrents extinguishing the blazing cart. In the afternoon re- 
inforcements arrived from Bos-ton and the people were saved. 

In the meantime the war continued with increasing severity and hun- 
dreds of people were killed. Then the Eng-lish resolved to organize trained 
band soldiers, and instead of waiting to be ambushed and shot down by waiting 
savages to use the In-di-an's method of warfare and adopt all his cunning and 
stealthy methods of attack. Phil-ip was chased from point to point and twice 
he barely escaped capture. Then an In-di-an betrayed his hiding place and a 
band of Eng-lish-men surprised the great chief in the middle of the night and 
killed him. 














4^ 



^k^anV -o3%^^^ ^:d<^ ij^^^^^'" 







ON THE WAR-PATH. 



Chapter 5t. 

THE SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA. 

While these terrible In-di-an massacres were taking place, a man in 
Eng-land was planning to found a colony in the New World. He was the son 
of a famous admiral, and his name was Wil-li-am Penn. He is said to have 
been a good-natured, happy boy when at school, fond of athletic sports, but at 
the same time a diligent student. When at Ox-ford, he heard a Qua-ker 
preacher deliver a sermon and at once became a convert to the faith. Soon 
after this, the students were ordered to wear a surplice, and Penn refused. 
For this he was expelled from school and his father banished him from home. 
He relented, however, and sent him to Par-is, hoping that the boy would forget 
his nonsense as he called it. But when Penn returned to Lon-don, he attended 
the meetings of the Friends, and ever afterward was a consistent member. He 
was confined for several months in the Tower of Lon-don, for writing a book 
on the Qua-ker religion. Soon after this his father died, leaving his son 
a large property, and Penn at once set about to start his colony. 

In 1680 he obtained a grant of land from Charles TL, including 
forty thousand square miles of territory between Ma-ry-land and New York, 
which the King called Penn-syl-va-ni-a. He determined that in his colony 
there should be perfect liberty of conscience and political freedom for all. Only 
murder and treason were punishable by death, and it was against the law to 
tell a lie. Every one, even an In-di-an, was to be treated with kindness and 
justice. In 1682, he set sail and on the 27th of October of that year, he arrived 
at the colony. He was pleased with everything he saw, and the beauty of the 
woods and hills and the broad river on which he sailed were sources of con- 
tinual wonder and delight. 

He laid out a city which was the beginning of Phil-a-del-phi-a. During 

the first year after Penn's arrival twenty-three ships filled with colonists 

came to the province. He treated the In-di-ans with kindness and the red men 

were struck with his simple and honest manner. He made a treaty with them 

6 81 




SOLITUDE. 



THE SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA 83 

and won their hearts at once. Penn remained in A-mer-i-ca for two years, 
during which time the colony prospered, school houses were built, a printing 
press was set up, emigrants came from Eng-land and Penn-syl-va-ni-a began 
to be looked upon as a model settlement. But Penn was obliged to return 
to Eng-land where he remained for fifteen years. During his absence frequent 
quarrels took place and false reports were sent to Eng-land and finally the 
government was taken away from Penn and given to a royal commissioner. 
In 1694 Wil-liam and Ma-ry gave the colony back into Penn's hands and five 
year's afterward he returned to A-mer-i-ca. You can judge his surprise that 
instead of a little straggling village which he left he found a city of nearly two 
thousand houses. Penn resided in a house which remained standing until the 
year 1868. He was very kind and hospitable and although he lived in great 
style, he showed as much courtesy to an In-di-an chief as he did to an Eng-lish 
Duke. He was always a gentleman and did not drop his courtly manners 
when he sat in a savage wigwam and ate hominy and acorns. He never be- 
lieved in slavery and although he owned a large number of slaves he gave them 
all freedom when he died. In 1701 he left the colony and returned to Eng-land 
where he became involved in much trouble. His son whom he had sent to 
A-mer-i-ca, turned out to be a drunkard and was sent to Eng-land in disgrace. 
The charter of the province was threatened and Penn was arrested and sent to 
prison. The governor that Penn left in his place was deposed and Charles 
Cook-in was put in charge. After him came Sir Wil-liam Keith. 

Wil-li-am Penn died in 1718 and in 1732 Thom-as Penn, his second son 
by his second marriage, moved to Phil-a-del-phia. He was never popular, but 
his elder brother seemed to inherit some of his father's ability and at once was 
recognized as possessing the noble qualities of his father. Although Penn- 
syl-va-ni-a was the youngest colony on the continent it had more inhabitants 
than Vir-gin-i-a, Ma-ry-land and the Car-o-li-nas. 

Phil-a-del-phi-a was the largest and finest city in A-mer-i-ca and second 
in size. Pat- rick Gor-don was governor after Keith and was succeeded in 1736 
by George Thom-as. 

About five years after the death of Wil-liam Penn there wandered into 
the city of Phil-a-del-phi-a a ragged, hungry, barefoot boy. For days he 
roamed about the streets of the city looking for work. In some way he man- 
aged to get into the good graces of Governor Keith, who sent him to Lon-don; 
but after a time Bcn-ja-min returned to Pennsylvania. He afterward be- 




PONTIAC. 



THE SETTLEMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA. 85 

came a very famous man and in 1728 he started a newspaper, called the Penn- 
syl-va-ni-a Gazette. It was published for 120 years. For twenty-five years he 
published "Poor Richard's Almanac," a collection of curious stories and wise 
sayings, and he soon became known as the greatest scholar in A-mer-i-ca. To 
him is due the credit of having discovered the fact that lightning and elec- 
tricity are the same. Ben-ja-min Frank-lin rendered the colonies great service 
during their struggle for independence and next to Wash-ing-ton his name is 
the most renowned one in the history of those times. 










t-%..^- , 






{{/ V % 




If: / - 1 



^ 



# 



AN EARLY SETTLER. 



CHAPTER XI. 
DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTHWEST. 

To Jes-u-it missionaries is due the credit of leading the march of 
civilization in the West. About thirty years after the settlement of Que-bec 
in 1608. the Fathers Shau-mo-not and Bre-boeuf traversed the great lakes, 
sailing along the northern shore of O-hi-o by way of Lake Erie and skirt- 
ing the western shores of Lake Hur-on as far as the straits of Mack-i-nac. In 
the summer of 1660, Father Mes-nard founded a mission on a point on the 
southern shore of Lake Su-pe-ri-or called Shag-wam-e-gan. He lost his life in 
some strange way and in 1665 Father All-ou-ez took up the mission, and 
preached in the In-di-an language to the various tribes. In 1669 Father 
A-Ion-ey and another priest went as far as the Fox river. 

In 1671 Jean Ta-lon, who had been appointed the over-seer of Can-a-da, 
by the French Government, called a council of In-di-ans at the foot of lake 
Su-pe-ri-or. The chiefs of the different tribes promised to be true and friendly 
to the French king and two years later Lou-is Jo-li-et and Father Mar-quette 
started on an expedition, when they discovered the source of the Mis-sis-sip-pi, 
going as far south as the mouth of the Ar-kan-sas. They floated down the 
Mis-sis-sip-pi river in their canoes, meeting with many In-di-ans who treated 
them finely. They saw the passage from the Fox to the Wis-con-sin river and 
from the St. Law-rence to the Mis-sis-sip-pi river. They floated past the point 
where the Mis-sou-ri entered into the great river on which they sailed. When 
they reached the Il-li-nois river they followed its course and made a portage 
into lake Mich-i-gan. Mar-quette lived for two years among the Mi-am-i In- 
di-ans, dying in 1675, while on his way to Mack-i-nac. Jo-li-et told wonderful 
stories of the expedition when he arrived at Mon-tre-al, and La Salle, a Nor- 
man gentleman, who had established a trading post near that city, fitted out an 
expedition. With thirty men he marched to Lake On-ta-ri-o, made the portage 
by Ni-ag-a-ra Falls to lake Er-ie, where he built a ship in which he sailed as far 
as Green Bay. La Salle and his men walked to St. Jo-seph, where they waited 

87 




AN OLD TRAPPER. 



DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTHWEST. 



89 



for the ship to come up with them. It did not appear, so he went westward, 
reaching the present La Salle county in Il-li-nois, where he established a fort. 
La Salle finally returned to Mon-tre-al, but in 1681 he set out upon another 
expedition. He crossed lake Mich-i-gan and penetrated inland by way of the 
Chi-ca-go river, which strange as it may seem, they named the "Divine River." 
La Salle made friends with the In-di-ans, and finally arrived at the Mis-sis- 
sip-pi. He followed the river until after many adventures he arrived at the sea. 
Soon after his return La Salle went to France, where he was given power to 




FRENCH TRADERS. 

colonize the territory he had explored and which he had named Lou-is-i-an-a, 
but which included the present state of Lou-is-i-an-a and all the territory north 
of the line of Tex-as and west of the Mis-sis-sip-pi to the Rocky Moun-tains. 

La Salle left France in 1684 with four vessels, but it was almost a year 
before he arrived at the mouth of the Mis-sis-sip-pi. He passed beyond the 
mouth of the river, landing farther west ; thus it happened that Tex-as was the 
first state to be settled after Flor-i-da. The captain deserted La Salle and re- 




,-v.\ ix\DlAN ATTACK. 



DISCOVERIES IN THE NORTHWEST. 91 

turned to France where he told unjust stories of the great discoverer. Al- 
though they were kind to him, La Salle was very unfortunate in his explora- 
tions and after many months spent in searching for the Mis-sis-sip-pi river he 
finally met his death at the hands of one of his companions. About ten years 
after La Salle's death France made another effort to colonize the Mis-sis-sip-pi 
valley. Lc-moine Di-ber-villc was given the command of an expedition and 
in 1699 he sailed from France to explore the territory which La Salle had dis- 
covered and in which he had lost his life. 

He entered the Gulf of Mex-i-co and sailed up the Mis-sis-sip-pi river. 
He made a second voyage in 1700 and established a settlement about thirty 
miles below the present city of New Or-leans. Communication was estab- 
lished between Louis-i-an-a and Can-a-da by way of the Mis-sis-sip-pi and 
Lake Er-ie. An Eng-lish-man by the name of Coxe was sent out by Charles 
11 of Eng-land to explore and take possession of the territory west of Flor-i-da. 
Then John Law, an Eng-lish-man, formed his famous scheme for the coloni- 
zation of Louis-i-an-a. Although this was the means of inducing many people 
to come to A-mer-i-ca, it failed, and thousands of people in Eng-land and 
France who had invested money in the plan were ruined. Then Bi-en-ville was 
made governor general in 1736. He led an expedition against the In-di-ans 
but was defeated. In 1741 he returned to France. The French colony of 
Louis-i-an-a was in many respects a failure. In the first place it was threat- 
ened with invasions of the Eng-lish by sea and the In-di-ans by land. This 
great territory was not conquered by force of arms but by the farmers who 
developed its wonderful resources. 





A JESUIT MISSIONARY. 



CHAPTER XII. 
THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 

In the year 1749, a grant of six hundred thousand acres of land west of 
the Al-le-gha-nies, on and near the O-hi-o River, was made to some Lon-don- 
ers and Vir-gin-i-ans, under the name of the O-hi-o Company. As the French 
considered this to be a part of their territory, they treated the Company's sur- 
veyors as intruders, made them prisoners, and broke up the trading posts. 
They acted with still greater vigor in 1753. In that year twelve hundred men 
were sent to Mon-tre-al, who built a fort at Presque Isle, on the southern shore 
of Lake Er-ie, now the present town of Er-ie. The same year they advanced 
south from this, and built two forts, one. Fort le Boeuf, at the present town of 
Wat-er-ford, and Fort Ve-nan-go, on French Creek, which flows into the 
Al-le-ghany River. 

Din-wid-die, Lieu-ten-ant Gov-ern-or of Vir-gin-i-a, alarmed at the 
movements of the French, sent a messenger to the French commander of these 
posts, asking their removal. The person he chose to carry this message was 
George Wash-ing-ton, a native of Vir-gin-i-a, then a young man of two-and- 
Iwenty. On the 30th of Oc-to-ber, 1753, the very day on which he received 
his credentials, he left Wil-liams-burg, and, pushing through the wilderness, 
arrived at Fort Ve-nan-go De-cem-ber 4. At Le Boeuf he at last found St. 
Pierre, the commandant, who received his letter, and treated him with marked 
kindness. In the course of Wash-ing-ton's stay the French officers talked with 
great frankness, said that they were there by order of the king, and should 
remain there so long as he commanded them to do so. 

St. Pierre's reply to Din-wid-die was given to Wash-ing-ton, who at 
once commenced his long and fearful journey of four hundred miles to 
Wil-liams-burg. Snow had fallen; the rivers had risen, and were filled with 
ice; the horses broke down at the very commencement, and the journey had to 
be made on foot. The In-di-ans were far from friendly, and once Wash-ing-ton 
was shot at from a distance of not more than fifteen feet. Through all these 




INTO THE WILDERNESS. 



The FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 



95 



dangers he made his way home unharmed, Jan-u-a-ry, 1754, and delivered St. 
Pierre's letter, which contained a polite but firm refusal to give up the posts. 

Early in 1754, the O-hi-o Company sent out a small party to erect a fort 
at the junction of the Al-le-gha-ny and Mo-non-ga-he-la Rivers, and Din-wid- 
die dispatched a captain's command to protect them. In addition to this, in 
March, a regiment of six hundred men was raised in Vir-gin-i-a, of which Frye 
was colonel, and Wash-ing-ton second in command. They quickly com- 
menced their march to the new fort, intending to occupy it. While on their 
way, they learned that the French had surprised and driven off the Company's 




QUEBEC. 

men, and had then completed the work, naming it Fort du Ouesne. Wash-ing- 
ton was sent in advance to reconnoitre, and fell in with a small body of French 
under Ju-mon-ville, at Great Mead-ows, about forty-five miles from Fort du 
Quesne. Wash-ing-ton surprised this party on the night of May 28, and in the 
attack Ju-mon-ville was slain, and nine of his men. This was the first blood 
shed in the war. Frye died about this time, and Wash-ing-ton assumed the 
command. The rest of the troops soon joined him at Great Mead-ows, where 
he built a stockade, which he called Fort Ne-ces-si-ty. 




A BRITISH SENTRY. 



THP: FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. Ql 

Here he was attacked in July by Dc Vil-licrs with 1,500 French and 
In-di-ans. At the end of ten hours hard fighting, Wash-ing-ton surrendered 
the fort on condition that his troops should be allowed the honors of war. 
This expedition under Wash-ing-ton was the commencement of the great 
struggle between the French and Eng-lish for the possession of the North 
A-mer-i-can continent. All the previous intercolonial wars sprang from dis- 
putes in Eu-rope, which involved the French, Eng-lish, and Span-ish colonies. 
This began in A-mer-1l-ca itself about territory. There was, as yet, no formal 
declaration of war between the two nations, nor was any made until nearly two 
years later. 

The Eng-lish government was anxious that their colonies should take 
the most active part in the contest, and urged them to unite on some plan of 
defense. While Wash-ing-ton was fighting in the wilds of Vir-gin-i-a, a con- 
vention of delegates from seven of the colonies assembled at Al-ba-ny to see 
what could be done. The first object they had in view was to secure the friend- 
ship of the powerful Ir-o-quois on the northern borders. This they suc- 
ceeded in doing. They then debated and adopted a plan of union for mutual 
defense, subject to the approval of the colonies and the Eng-lish government. 
The author of the plan was Ben-ja-min Frank-lin, a delegate from Perm- 
syl-va-ni-a. It never went in force, because it pleased neither the king nor the 
colonies. The king thought it gave the people too much power, the colonies 
thought it gave the king too much. The probability is, therefore, that Frank- 
lin's plan was nearly correct. 

The plan of union not having been adopted, the Eng-lish government 
determined to carry on the war with such help as the colonies might feel in- 
clined to furnish. In Feb-ru-a-ry, 1755, Gen-er-al Brad-dock was sent out 
from England to the Ches-a-peake, as commander-in-chief, with two regiments 
of Brit-ish troops. At Al-ex-an-dra, Brad-dock met a convention of Colonial 
governors, and, with their advice, decided on the campaign for the year. 
Brad-dock, in person, was to march against Fort du Quesne; Gov-ern-or Shir- 
ley, of Mas-sa-chu-setts, to lead an expedition against Fort Ni-ag-a-ra: and 
Wil-liam Johnson, an influential man with the Ir-o-quois, was to attempt, with 
their assistance, the capture of Crown Point. 

Besides these three expeditions planned by Brad-dock, still another, 

against the French settlements at the head of the Bay of Fun-dy, had been 

previously arranged in Mas-sa-chu-setts. They were defended by two French 
7 




INDIAN TROOPS. 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 



90 



forts, and were considered by the Eng-lish to be within the Hmits of No-va 
Sco-tia. In the month of May, Colonel John Wins-low, at the head of three 
thousand New Eng-land men, left Bos-ton to attack these posts. On his 
arrival at the Bay of Fun-dy, Colonel Monck-ton, with three hundred Brit-ish 
regulars, joined him, and assumed the command. The forts were soon taken 
with little bloodshed, and the whole territory was now completely in the hands 
of the Eng-lish. 

The French settlers or A-ca-di-ans, twelve thousand or more in number, 
were simple-hearted people, devoted to their farms and their country pleasures, 







BRADDOCK'S DEFEAT. 



and attached to the French rule by language and religion. They would have 
been glad to have seen the French authority established throughout the old 
limits of A-ca-di-a, but they were far from being troublesome to the Eng-lish. 
Under false pretenses, the A-ca-di-ans were induced to assemble in large 
numbers at different points; and, without warning, with scarce an opportunity 
of bidding farewell to their homes, seven thousand of them were thrust on 




o 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 101 

board of the Eng-lish vessels, and were scattered throughout the Eng-lish col- 
onies. Wives were separated from husbands, children from parents, and, in 
misery and wretched exile, this once happy people lingered out a weary life. 
To add to this dreadful cruelty, the country was laid waste, the farm-houses 
were burned ; the growing crops were destroyed, in order to starve any who 
might still be lurking in the woods, and this beautiful and fertile tract was for 
a time reduced to desolation. 

Brad-dock's force at Al-ex-an-dra had been increased by the arrival of 
Vir-gin-i-a troops, and, in the month of May, numbered 2,500 men. In the 
beginning of June he left Fort Cum-ber-land, on the extreme frontiers of Vir- 
gin-i-a, and, with his whole army, proceeded against Fort du Quesne. Im- 
patient with the slowness of the march, he ordered General Dun-bar to follow 
him with the baggage and pushed on with 1,200 light troops. This was 
done at the advice of Wash-ing-ton, who was one of the aids-de-camp. 
Wash-ing-ton had already earnestly warned him of the In-di-an mode of 
fighting; and Ben-ja-min Frank-lin, who visited the general at Fred-er-ick-ton, 
did the same. But Brad-dock was a vain man, and held the provincial troops 
and the In-di-ans in contempt. His self-confidence proved his ruin. When 
he was less than seven miles from Fort du Quesne, he was suddenly attacked 
on the 9th of July by about 800 In-di-ans and a few French-men, commanded 
by an officer no higher than the rank of captain. 

The enemy were posted chiefly behind trees. The Eng-lish were in 
open ground, without shelter, exposed to a deadly fire. It was in vain that the 
Eng-lish officers again and again led their men against their unseen foe. They 
themselves were shot down. Brad-dock, after showing the greatest bravery, 
was at last mortally wounded and carried from the field, and the troops fell into 
confusion. Wash-ing-ton did everything in his power to restore order. He 
was repeatedly shot at, and was the only mounted officer that escaped without 
a wound. At last he was able to rally the Vir-gin-i-a troops, and in this way 
cover the retreat of the regulars. The day had been most disastrous to Brad 
dock. Out of the 1,200 engaged, nearly 800 were killed or wounded, and of 
these, 62 were officers. Dun-bar, who was coming on slowly with the bag- 
gage and the rest of the army, on learning the disaster, destroyed his wagons 
and made a hasty retreat, or rather flight, with the wreck of his army, first to 
Fort Cum-ber-land, and then to Phil-a-del-phi-a. 



TV - 











SCENE OF THE TEA PLOT. 



THE FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR. 103 

The death of Brad-dock put Gov-er-nor Shir-ley in command of the 
troops. In July, 1755, General Ly-man was in command of 6,000 provincial 
troops, and the following month was joined by General Johnson. Learning 
that 2,000 French and In-di-ans were on their way to attack him, he sent for- 
ward a body of men. A sharp battle ensued, at Crown Point, which resulted 
in the defeat of the French. In the following De-cem-ber, Shir-ley decided on 
making three expeditions; one against Ni-ag-a-ra, the others against Fort du 
Quesne and Crown Point. In June, 1756, General A-ber-crom-bie arrived 
from Eng-land with fresh troops, and succeeded General Shir-ley in command. 
Lord Lou-doun, the commander-in-chief arrived the following month, and 
while he was making up his mind what to do, the Mar-quis of Mont-calm, at 
the head of 5,000 Ca-na-di-ans and In-di-ans, attacked the forts at Os-we-go, 
capturing over 1,000 prisoners, and destroying the forts. Lou-doun had sent 
out some troops under Colonel Webb, to Os-we-go, who, learning of 
the disaster, returned to Al-ba-ny. Lou-doun's expedition against Crown 
Point, Fort du Quesne, and Ni-ag-a-ra were failures, and in Jan-u-a-ry, 1757, 
it was decided that there should be one expedition sent out against Lou-is- 
berg. Frontier posts were defended and George Wash-ing-ton, with 
provincial troops, was employed to watch the outposts of Vir-gin-i-a. Lord 
Lou-doun sailed from New York, but was so slow at moving that a large 
French fleet entered Lou-is-berg, so there was nothing left for the Eng-lish to 
do, but to return to New York. In the meantime Mont-calm, who was a 
very dilTerent man from Lou-doun, captured and destroyed Fort Wil-liam 
Hen-ry, and the close of the year, 1757, found the French in possession of all 
the territory they had before the war. The Eng-lish had suffered greatly and 
the In-di-an allies of the French kept the settlements in constant alarm. 

In the following year Wil-liam Pitt, afterward Lord Chat-ham, was 
made prime minister of Eng-land. He persuaded the colonists to raise 28,000 
men, to these he added 22,000 regulars from Eng-land. He recalled Lou-doun 
and made General A-ber-crom-bie commander-in-chief. In June, General 
Am-herst captured Lou-is-berg, and was made commander-in-chief in place of 
A-ber-crom-bie, who had been defeated at Ti-con-der-o-ga. A little later Fort 
du Quesne was captured. 







IF' 



sSii: 



''^!j*ilSllll'T~ 



BUNKER HILL MONUMENT. 



CHAPTER XIII. 
THE ENGLISH VICTORIOUS. 

The Eng-lish minister, Pitt, put forth fresh efforts in the year 1759. 
Three expeditions were again planned, one against Que-bec, under Gen-e-ra^ 
Wolfe; another, under Am-herst, against Forts Ti-con-der-o-ga and Crown 
Point; a third under General Prid-eaux, by way of Os-we-go, against Fort 
Ni-ag-a-ra. Am-herst and Prid-eaux, after capturing the forts assigned to 
them, were to join Wolfe on the St, Law-rence, opposite Que-bec. General 
Prid-eaux was killed soon after the siege of Fort Ni-ag-a-ra began, and Sir 
Wil-liam John-son succeeded to the command. On July 23, the French sur- 
rendered the fort; but John-son, encumbered by prisoners, was unable, from 
want of provisions and of boats, to move down the St. Law-rence to the help of 
Wolfe, as was originally arranged. 

When General Am-herst and his army reached Ti-con-der-o-ga, they 
found that this fort, and also Crown Point, had been abandoned by the French. 
As was the case with John-son's army, Am-herst's troops could not co-operate 
with Wolfe, because vessels had not been provided to carry them down Lake 
Cham-plain. On the 26th of June, General Wolfe arrived in the St. Law-rence, 
opposite the Isle of Or-leans. He had with him 8,000 troops and a fleet of 22 
ships of the line, besides frigates and smaller vessels. This immense fleet had 
entire command of the river; and Wolfe found it easy to erect batteries on 
Point Le-vi, opposite Que-bec. The city was composed of two parts, the 
upper and the lower town. Wolfe's guns easily destroyed the houses along 
the river, but could do no harm to the citadel in the upper town. For miles 
above the city the rocks rose high above the river bank, and every landing 
place at their foot seemed to be guarded by cannon or floating batteries. 

The lower side of the city was protected by the rivers St. Charles and 
Mont-mo-ren-ci, and between these the French had an intrenched camp. In 
the month of July, Wolfe crossed the St. Law-rence with a portion of his 

105 




ADDRESSING THE PEOPLE. 



THE ENGLISH VICTORIOUS. 107 

army and attacked these intrenchments, but was repulsed with the loss of 500 
men. To crown his disappointment, no help came from the Ni-ag-a-ra ex- 
pedition nor from Am-herst, and he himself, sick with a slow fever, was left, 
with his diminished army, to gain Que-bec as he could. The Plains or 
Heights of A-bra-ham lay west of the city, and there was a narrow path up 
their face scarce wide enough for two men abreast, leading from a small 
cove on the river. By this path, Wolfe, under the advice of his officers, de- 
termined to ascend with his afmy to the plains. He first sailed up the river 
several miles above the landing place, now known as Wolfe's Cove, Sep- 
tem-ber 12. That night, flat-bottomed boats, containing the soldiers, dropped 
down the river and landed them at the cove. Slowly they climbed to the top, 
and early in the morning they were there drawn up ready for battle. Mont- 
calm saw that he was now compelled to fight, and at once moved against them. 
The battle was hotly contested, and was decided in favor of the Bri-tish, but not 
until Wolfe and i\Iont-calm were both mortally wounded. 

Wolfe died on the field of battle just as the French had begun to retreat. 
Mont-calm died the next morning in Que-bec. Five days after, on Sep-tem-ber 
18, the city and garrison surrendered to General Town-send, the successor of 
Wolfe. 

In Ap-ril, 1760, De Le-vi left Mon-tre-al with io,ooo men to attack 
Que-bec before the arrival of re-inforcements from England. Murray, who 
was in command at Que-bec, marched out with scarce 3,000 men to give him 
battle. A severe engagement followed, Ap-ril 26, in which Mur-ray lost 1,000 
men, and fled back to the city, leaving all his artillery. Que-bec was at once 
besieged by the French, but, fortunately, the Eng-lish fleet arrived May 9, and 
De Le-vi retreated in a few days to Mon-tre-al. The Eng-lish made extra- 
ordinary efforts during the summer, and in Sep-tem-ber three powerful armies 
were united under General Am-herst in front of Mon-tre-al. The force was so 
great that the French governor at once surrendered, and with Mon-tre-al, all 
the posts in Can-a-da were given up. There were no further hostilities in 
A-mer-i-ca, but the war continued elsewhere until the year 1763. 

On the loth of Feb-ru-a-ry, 1763, a treaty of peace was 
signed in Pa-ris. By this treaty, Great Bri-tain obtained all the 
French territory east of the Mis-sis-sip-pi, with the exception of the island of 
New Or-leans, bounded on the north by the Rivers I-ber-ville and A-mi-te, and 
Lakes Mau-re-pas and Pont-char-train. From Spain she received Flor-i-da in 




COLONIAL DAYS. 



THE ENGLISH VICTORIOUS. 109 

exchange for Ha-va-na. As some recompense to Spain, P>ance ceded to her 
the island of New Or-leans, and all Lou-is-i-an-a west of the Mis-sis-sip-pi. 
Two nations now claimed the North A-mer-i-can continent, the Span-ish 
and the Eng-lish. The French had not retained a foothold. The whole vast 
region east of the Mis-sis-sip-pi, with the exception of the island of New Or- 
leans, from the Gulf of Mex-i-co to the Arc-tic 0-cean, was under the British 
flag. Flor-i-da was divided by the Eng-lish government into two provinces. 
East and West Flor-i-da; and the River A-pa-la-chi-co-la was made the 
dividing line. The Mis-sis-sip-pi formed the western boundary of West 
Flor-i-da. 

After the treaty of peace was concluded, the Bri-tish were not quietly 
permitted to hold possession of the vast territory on the north and west. The 
In-di-an tribes friendly to the French were unwilling to submit to the Eng-lish 
rule, and organized a formidable league in 1763 under Pon-ti-ac, a famous 
chief of the Ot-ta-was. Every post west of Fort Ni-ag-a-ra, with the exception 
of De-troit and Fort Pitt, was captured or destroyed, and their garrisons made 
prisoners or massacred; these two posts were closely blockaded, and only 
saved by re-inforcements sent by Am-herst. Many settlers were killed, and 
the rest fled eastward for protection. In 1764, the In-di-ans, overawed by the 
preparations made to put them down, sued for peace. Thus ended what is 
known as Pon-ti-ac's War. 


















.X-. 



^,\V ' . i" ^.'" 



fi/^£_g^:,^' 



l/di^SSj^ 



I'^^tK 






--xV~ 














i.^'^';/./^' ' ^^y^i: 



YOUNG PATRIOTS. 



CHAPTER XIV. 
LIBERTY OR DEATH. 

The treaty of Pa-ris secured to the An-glo-Sax-on race the control of 
North A-mer-i-ca east of the Mis-sis-sip-pi; but Eng-land was not destined 
long to remain mistress of this vast region. The treaty was scarcely ratified 
when the renewed oppressions of the mother country brought on a struggle 
with the colonies, which ended, twelve years later, in the War for In-de- 
pen-dence. 

The more remote causes of the A-mer-i-can Re-vo-lu-tion arc to be 
found in the oppressive enactments made by Eng-land at an early day to 
cripple or destroy colonial commerce. The celebrated Nav-i-ga-tion Act of 
1660 was passed for this purpose, and was felt severely throughout the colo- 
nics, but particularly in commercial New Eng-land. It sought to keep the 
A-mer-i-cans dependent on the mother country, making Eng-land the only 
place where colonial products could be sent for a market, and whence the 
colonists should wholly draw their supply of foreign merchandise. 

From this it naturally followed that Eng-land earnestly strove to dis- 
courage the manufacture in the colonies of all such goods as could be pro- 
vided by her own manufacturers. We can judge what were the settled feelings 
of the government and people of Eng-land on this point when, some year's 
after the French and In-di-an War, Lord Chat-ham, late Wil-liam Pitt, a friend 
of the colonies, said in Par-li-a-ment that "the Brit-ish colonists of North 
A-mer-i-ca had no right to manufacture even a nail for a horse-shoe." 
Even as early as the year 1691, the current Eng-lish idea was that the colonies 
existed only for the consumption of Eng-lish commodities and the production 
of merchantable articles for the Eng-lish trade. 

The A-mer-i-cans, on the other hand, strove to encourage manufactures 
within their own borders. Iron-works were established in Mas-sa-chu-setts as 
early as 1643; ^^^ '" 1721 there were in New Eng-land six furnaces and 
nineteen forges. The production of iron was still greater in Penn-syl-va-ni-a, 

lU 



112 



LIBERTY OR DEATH. 



whence it was exported to the other colonies. The Brit-ish iron-masters 
the same year tried to prevent the production of iron in A-mer-i-ca, but 
failed at that time. In 1750 the A-mer-i-cans were prohibited by act of 
Par-li-a-ment from sending pig-iron to Eng-land, and from manufacturing 
steel and bar-iron for home use. This act shut up all such works, and any 
built thereafter were liable to destruction as "nuisances." 

Par-li-a-ment in 1732 prohibited the transportaiton of A-mer-i-can 
woolen goods from colony to colony; and hats, the making of which was al- 
already a thriving business, were placed under the same restriction as woolen 
goods. As an argument for this, it was asserted that, from the abundance of 




HOUSE IN WHICH THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE WAS SIGNED. 

beaver and other furs in A-mer-i-ca, the colonists, unless restrained, would 
soon supply all the world with hats. The act of 1732 was followed, in 1733, by 
a law known as the "Molasses Act," imposing a duty on rum, molasses, and 
sugar imported from foreign colonies into any of the Bri-tish plantations. 
This was to protect the West In-di-a colonial productions at the expense of the 
North A-mer-i-can colonies. 

The various acts of trade brought in their train a large number of cus- 
tom-house officers, who applied to the colonial courts in 1761 to grant them 
"writs of assistance" — warrants to search when and where they pleased for 
smuggled goods, and to call in others to assist them. This was felt to be a 



LIBERTY OR DEATH. 118 

grievous and dangerous power, and the issue of the writs was opposed with so 
much energy that, though they were granted, they were so unpopular as to be 
seldom used. 

Regardless of the state of feeling in A-mer-i-ca, the Eng-lish ministers 
brought forward, in the year 1763, a proposition to tax the colonies. It was 
claimed that the debt of Eng-land had been largely increased by defending 
them, and that it was only right they should defray a share of the expense by 
paying a tax to the Eng-lish government. In the month of March, 1764, the 
House of Com-mons resolved "that Par-li-a-ment had a right to tax A-mer-i- 
ca;" and in Ap-ril an act was passed levying duties on certain articles imported 
into A-mer-i-ca, and adding iron and lumber to a list of articles which could 
be exported only to Eng-land. The preamble of this act avowed the purpose 
"of raising a revenue for the expenses of defending, protecting, and securing 
his majesty's domains in A-mer-i-ca. 

The colonies protested against this as an attempt upon their liberties, 
proclaiming that they had borne their full share in the various wars for their 
defense, and were now able to protect themselves, and affirming that "taxation 
without representation was tyranny." But armed resistance was not yet hinted 
at. Bos-ton, under the leadership of Sam-u-el Ad-ams, was the first to move 
against this new plan of taxation, and instructed her delegates in the Mas-sa- 
chu-setts House of Rep-re-sent-a-tives to remonstrate against it. 

This body resolved "that the imposition of duties and taxes by the 

Par-li-a-ment of Great Bri-tain upon a people not represented in the House 

of Com-mons is absolutely irreconcilable with their rights." A letter was 

sent to the agent of the colony in Lon-don, urging him to protest vigorously 

against the scheme of taxation, in which letter were the remarkable words, "If 

we are not represented we are slaves." The Mas-sa-chu-setts House also 

ordered that a committee should correspond with the other colonies. Con- 

nec-ti-cut. New York, Rhode Is-land and Vir-gin-i-a followed the example of 

Mas-sa-chu-setts, and dispatched remonstrances to Eng-land. New York sent 

one so strongly expressed that no member of Par-li-a-ment could be found bold 

enough to present it. All this produced no effect. The Stamp Act, the other 

part of the taxation scheme, passed the House of Com-mons, March, 1765, by a 

vote of five to one, and the House of Lords were so agreed that there was no 

division. This act imposed a duty on all paper, vellum, and parchment used 

in the colonies, and declared all writings on unstamped materials to be null 

and void. 
8 



114 



LIBERTY OR DEATH. 



Another act passed by Par-li-a-ment was more irritating to the A-mer-i- 
cans than the Stamp Act. This was known as "the Quar-ter-ing Act." A 
standing army was ordered for the colonies, and the people, wherever these 
troops were stationed, were required by this enactment to find quarters, fire- 
wood, bedding, drink, soap and candles for the soldiers. The Vir-gin-i-a assem- 
bly was in session when the news of the passage of these acts arrived in May. 
The aristocratic leaders of the House were afraid to take any action; but Pat-rick 
Hen-ry, a young lawyer, presented a series of resolutions denouncing the acts 
as destructive to Bri-tish as well as A-mer-i-can liberty. The resolutions, sup- 










1^- 



MARQUIS DE LAFAYETTE. 

ported by Hen-ry's wonderful eloquence, passed, notwithstanding great op- 
position, and copies were sent at once to the different colonies. Before 
the Vir-gin-i-a resolutions reached Mas-sa-chu-setts, her representatives had 
recommended that committees from the several colonies should meet at New 
York in Oc-to-ber, to consult on what was to be done. 

. The people seemed scarcely inclined to wait for this Colonial Congress, 
but took matters into their own hands. In New York, as early as June, the 
Stamp Act was hawked about the streets as "The Folly of Eng-land and the 



LIBERTY OR DEATH. 115 

Ruin of A-mer-i-ca." In Bos-ton the citizens had frequent meetings under a 
tree, which they named "Li-ber-ty Tree/' Upon this they hung in efifigy those 
persons who were supposed to favor the Eng-lish government. In Au-gust 
a mob attacked the house of a stamp distributor and destroyed the furniture. 
They also attacked the house of Lieu-ten-ant Gov-er-nor Hutch-in-son, and. 
dragging out his furniture, made bonfires of it. Clubs, called "Sons of Lib- 
erty," sprang up all over the North, and spread south as far as New Jer-sey. 

Such was the excitement when delegates from nine colonies met in 
New York in Oc-to-ber, 1765, and appointed Ti-mo-thy Rug-gles, of Mas-sa- 
chusetts, president. After a session of three weeks, they agreed on a "Decla- 
ration of the Rights and Grievances of the Colonies;" and a petition to the 
king and memorials to each house of Par-li-a-ment were also prepared. In 
the "Declaration of Rights," they took the new ground that representation 
of the colonies in Par-li-a-ment was impossible on account of distance, and 
that the different colonies could only tax themselves. 

When the ist of No-vem-ber arrived, the day appointed for the Stamp 
Act to go into operation, not a stamp was to be seen, and the stamp dis- 
tributors, everywhere unpopular, had deemed it wise to resign. In New York 
the Sons of Liberty burned Governor Cold-en in efifigy, and so far frightened 
him that he delivered the stamps to the mayor and corporation on the 5th of 
No-vem-ber. 

Next day No-vem-ber 6, at the same place, a committee drew up an 
agreement to import no more goods until the Stamp Act was repealed. This 
non-importation agreement was soon signed by the leading merchants in New 
York, Phil-a-del-phi-a, and Bos-ton. At the same time a combination was 
entered into for the wearing of A-mer-i-can cloths. Business, interrupted for 
a short time by the want of stamps, was presently resumed, and the courts 
ere long ceased to regard the Stamp Act in their proceedings. 

In Feb-ru-a-ry, 1766, Ben-ja-min Frank-lin, of Penn-syl-va-ni-a, agent 
in Eng-land for some of the colonies, was summoned before the bar of the 
House of Com-mons to answer questions regarding the condition of the col- 
onies. In this trying position that great man displayed wonderful calmness, 
readiness, and practical wisdom. His answers in relation to the operation of 
the Stamp Act, and the temper of the A-mer-i-cans should it be enforced, 
greatly surprised the officers of the crown and promoted the cause of his 
countrymen. 



116 



LIBERTY OR DEATH. 



The Eng-lish government showed signs of alarm. Pitt, who was the 
friend of the A-mer-i-cans, nobly defended them in the House of Com-mons; 
and in March, 1766, Par-li-a-ment repealed the Stamp Act by a decisive 
majority. At the same time, the right to tax the colonies was asserted by a 
bill which declared the right and power of Par-li-a-ment "to bind the colonies 
in all cases whatsoever." The Eng-lish rulers soon showed ihat they had not 
yielded much. In Jan-u-a-ry, 1767, a new bill to tax the colonies was intro- 
duced into Par-li-a-ment, in w^iich tea, paints, paper, glass, and lead were 




GENERAL PUTNAM. 



made subject to duty. This was passed in June. A board of revenue com- 
missioners for A-mer-i-ca was also established, with its head-quarters at 
Bos-ton. 

On the receipt of this news, the excitement, which had been allayed 
by the repeal of the Stamp Act, broke out with fresh fury. The colonial news- 
papers, twenty-five in number, were filled with stirring and patriotic articles. 
The non-importation ag-reement, which had for the time been forgotten, was 



LIBERTY OR DEATH. 117 

again adopted in Bos-ton, Prov-i-dence, New York and Phil-a-del-phi-a. The 
Mas-sa-chu-setts General Court, in Feb-ru-a-ry, 1768, sent a circular letter to 
the other Colonial Assemblies urging co-operation and consultation. 

In June, 1768, the revenue officers at Bos-ton seized a sloop on the 
charge of smuggling a cargo of wine, and a riot at once broke out. The 
officers fled for protection to the barracks on Cas-tle Is-land, in the harbor. 

To frighten the inhabitants, four regiments were ordered to Bos-ton 
in Sep-tem-ber; but the authorities spurned the Quar-ter-ing Act, and refused 
to provide for the troops. Some of them encamped on the Com-mon, and 
Fan-eu-il Hall was used as a temporary barrack. General Gage, hastening 
from New York, was compelled to hire for quarters some houses obtained with 
great difficulty, and to provide for the men out of his own military stores; 
Eos-ton would supply neither bedding nor fuel. In New York the Assembly 
also refused to comply with the requisites of the Quar-ter-ing Act, and was 
dissolved. 





CHARGE BAYONETSI 



G.- 



CHAPTER XV. 
THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. 

In Bos-ton, the ill feeling between the people and soldiers broke out 
into open quarrels, and on March 5, 1770, a picket-guard of eight men, pro- 
voked by the taunts of the crowd, fired, killing three persons and wounding 
eight others. Next morning Fan-eu-il Hall was filled with an excited crowd; 
the anger of the people rose throughout the day to a tremendous height, and 
only the removal of the regiments from the city, in compliance of a positive 
demand, appeased the citizens. The captain of the guard and the soldiers were 
afterward tried for murder, but were acquitted on the ground of self-defense. 

The non-importation of Bri-tish goods again began to influence public 
feeling in Eng-land and a bill was passed by Par-li-a-ment in May, 1773, re- 
pealing the tax on all articles except tea, on which there was a nominal duty 
jf three-pence a pound. The spirit of the A-mer-i-cans was thoroughly aroused, 
and they scorned this concession. It was not the amount of the tax, but the 
attempt to tax them without their consent, of which they complained. The 
non-importation agreement was so far modified as to apply only to tea, and 
the merchants at the different ports were earnestly warned against receiving 
it on consignment. The first of the tea-ships arrived at Bos-ton No-vem-ber 
25, 1773. A mass meeting of citizens at Fan-eu-il Hall ordered the vessel to 
be moored at the wharf, and appointed a guard of 25 men to watch her, and 
see that no tea was landed. Presently a committee, on which were the active 
patriots John Han-cock, Sam-u-el Ad-ams, Jo-si-ah Quin-cy, and Jo-seph 
War-ren, obtained a promise from the captain and the owner of the ship that 
the tea should be carried back to Eng-land; but Governor Hutch-in-son would 
not grant a 'permit, and without this, the vessel could not pass the fort and 
ships of war in the harbor. 

As soon as the refusal of the governor became known, some 40 or 50 
men, dressed like Mo-hawks, on the night of De-cem-ber 16, boarded the tea- 
vessels, two more of which had meanwhile arrived, and, in presence of a 

119 




OFF FOR THE WAR. 



THE BOSTON TEA PARTY. 121 

great but orderly crowd, emptied, in two hours, 342 chests of tea into the 
water. At New York and Phil-a-dcl-phi-a the people would not permit the tea 
to be landed. That which arrived at Charles-ton was stored in damp cellars, 
and soon became worthless. 

When the news of the tea-riot reached Eng-land it produced much 
angry feeling there, which showed itself in a determination to punish Bos-ton. 
Par-li-a-ment thereupon passed the Bos-ton Port Bill, shutting up the harbor 
of the town, and removing the port of entry and the seat of government to 
Sa-lem. In addition, some of the most tyrannous acts were passed; among 
these, a new act for quartering troops on the people. Bos-ton was chiefly de- 
pendent on commerce, and the destruction of her trade produced great distress 
among her people. The inhabitants of Sa-lem and Mar-ble-head nobly came 
to their assistance, and offered the use of their wharves to the merchants of 
Bos-ton; and the colonies sent liberal contributions for her poorer citizens. 

Vir-gin-i-a was among the first in expressing her sympathy for Mas-sa- 
chu-setts. Her Assembly was dissolved by the governor in May, 1774, for 
appointing the ist of June — the day when the Bos-ton Port Bill was to go into 
operation — as a fast day. It met, however, next day, notwithstanding his 
opposition, and declared that an attack on one colony was an attack upon all ; 
and advised calling a Congress to consider the grievances of the people. The 
other colonies joined in this recommendation, and it was agreed that a Con- 
gress should meet in Sep-tem-ber. 

This second Col-o-ni-al Con-gress — the great Con-gress of the Rev-o- 
lu-tion — composed of delegates from all the colonies except Geor-gi-a, met at 
Phil-a-del-phi-a, Sep-tem-ber 5, 1774. Pey-ton Ran-dolph, of Vir-gin-i-a, was 
appointed president, and Charles Thom-son, of Phil-a-del-phi-a, secretary. 
The delegates passed a declaration of rights, together with addresses to the 
king and people of Eng-land, and recommended the suspension of all com- 
mercial intercourse with Great Bri-tain. It then adjourned, to meet May 10, 
1775. Before Con-gress met in Sep-tem-ber, General Gage, now governor, 
had begun to fortify Bos-ton Neck, the only approach by land to the town; 
he had also seized some powder stored by the provincials at Cam-bridge. On 
the other hand, the Mas-sa-chu-setts Assembly, which had been dissolved by 
Gage, met in Oc-to-ber, 1774, as a Pro-vin-cial Congress, called out the 
militia, ordered them to train and be ready at a minute's notice — hence called 
"Minute-men" — voted £20,000 for military expenses, and made preparations 
for the worst. 




CRYING THE STAMPS. 



CHAPTER XVI. 
FIRST BLOOD. 

On April i8, 1775, General Gage, the Bri-tish commander, sent 800 
troops under Colonel Smith, to destroy a quantity of ammunition that the 
A-mer-i-cans had collected at Con-cord. They had orders to capture, if 
possible, John Han-cock and Sam-u-el Ad-ams, who lived in that town. The 
movement was, however, discovered; the alarm was swiftly given to the coun- 
try, and when the Bri-tish arrived before sunrise at Lex-ing-ton, about six 
miles from Con-cord, they found some 70 or 80 minute-men assembled on 
the green. Major Pit-cairn, at the head of the Bri-tish column, advanced on 
them rapidly,and called on them, as rebels, to throw down their arms and 
disperse. Not being instantly obeyed, he ordered the troops to fire, and seven 
of the minute-men were killed and several wounded. The Bri-tish then pro- 
ceeded to Con-cord and commenced to destroy the stores, but were attacked 
by fresh bodies of minute-men and compelled to retreat. 

The country was now thoroughly aroused. Young and old, with such 
arms as they could collect, flocked to the scene of action. From behind trees, 
walls, and fences, they kept up such a galling fire on the enemy during their 
retreat, that, had the latter not met at Lex-ing-ton a re-enforcement of 900 
men and two field pieces under Lord Per-cy, sent by Gage to their assistance, 
they would have been destroyed or captured to a man. The Bri-tish con- 
tinued their retreat to Charles-ton, harassed by the A-mer-i-cans. When 
they arrived here, utterly worn out, they had lost, in killed, wounded, and 
missing, nearly 300 men. The loss of the provincials was about 90. The skir- 
mish at Lex-ing-ton, April 19, 1775, was the beginning of bloodshed in the 
Rev-o-lu-tion-a-ry War. 

General Gage soon found himself closely shut up in Bos-ton by an 
army of 20,000 provincials, who hastened to that point on the news of the 
battle of Lex-ing-ton. A line of entrenchments, extending nearly 20 miles, 
was formed from Rox-bury to the River Mys-tic, and the greatest activity pre- 

123 



124 



FIRST BLOOD. 



vailed among the A-mer-i-cans. In May large re-enforcements arrived from 
Eng-land, under Generals Howe, Bur-goyne, and Clin-ton; and the army of 
Gage was now increased to more than 10,000 men. Thus strengthened, he 
issued a proclamation declaring martial law, and offering a pardon to those 
rebels who would lay down their arms. From this offer he excluded by name 
John Han-cock and Sam-u-el Ad-ams, as persons whose crimes were too 
great to be overlooked. 

The provincials encamped around Bos-ton consisted of New Eng-land 
men, chiefly from Mas-sa-chu-setts, commanded by General Ward. To blockade 




■ THE CALL TO ARMS. 

the Bri-tish more completely in the town. Colonel Pres-cott was sent with 1,000 
men, on the night of June 16, to fortify Bun-ker Hill, which commanded the 
great northern road out of Bos-ton across the peninsula of Charles-ton. By 
some mistake, Pres-cott passed by Bun-ker Hill, and went on to Breed's Hill, 
much nearer the town, and there threw up intrenchments. When the morning 
broke, the Bri-tish were surprised to see earth-works so near them, and from 
the ships and a battery on Copp's Hill opened fire, which did not disturb the 
A-mer-i-cans. Gage then determined to carry the works by assault. Abcmt 



FIRST BLOOD. \2r> 

three o'clock in the afternoon, 3,000 picked Bri-tish troops left Bos-ton, under 
Generals Howe and Pi-got, and, having landed, began to ascend the hill, 
while the cannon from the ships played on the A-mer-i-can works. From the 
neighboring heights, and from the roofs and steeples of Bos-ton, thousands of 
spectators watched anxiously the approaching battle. 

The A-mer-i-cans remained quiet until the Bri-tish were within 150 
yards of the works, and then delivered their fire so steady and well directed 
that the enemy fell back in disorder to the foot of the hill. A secoiid time they 
advanced, but with the same result. It was some time before they could be 
prepared for a third attack, and in the meantime they were re-enforced by 1,000 
fresh troops from Bos-ton, under General Clin-ton. General Gage ordered the 
houses of Charles-ton to be set on fire, and, under cover of the smoke, they 
were again led up the hill. The powder of the A-mer-i-cans had begun to 
fail, and the royal troops pushed in at one end of the redoubt, and planted light 
field pieces. These raked the breastworks from end to end, and at the same 
time some Bri-tish grenadiers swept over the works at the point of the bayonet. 
The A-mer-i-cans clubbed their muskets, and fell back fighting across Charles- 
ton Neck to a place of safety. 

The British had won the hill, but at a terrible sacrifice. They had lost 
over 1,000 in killed and wounded, more than a third of their troops engaged. 
The provincial loss was 450, but among these was the young and ardent 
patriot. General War-ren, a loss which the Bri-tish joyfully thought was 
worth five hundred men. Meanwhile, on May 10, the day to which they had 
adjourned, the delegates to the Con-ti-nen-tal Con-gress reassembled at 
Phil-a-del-phi-a, John Han-cock being president, and Charles Thom-son, the 
Qua-ker schoolmaster of Phil-a-del-phi-a, secretary. They resolved that Great 
Bri-tain had begun hostilities; they also expressed a great desire for peace, 
and declared that they had no wish to throw ofT their allegiance. At the same 
time, they voted that the colonies should be prepared for war, and nothing 
but superior force would compel them to submit to Bri-tish taxation. It was 
as yet chiefly in New Eng-land that the idea of independence was freely 
spoken of; it found little favor in the Middle and Southern Colonies. 

On June 15, Con-gress unanimously appointed George Wash-ing-ton, 
who was then present as a delegate from Vir-gin-i-a, commander-in-chief. He 
accepted the appointment in a modest speech, in which he declined to receive 
any compensation but the payment of his expenses. A fortnight after the 




BURNING THE STAMPS. 



FIRST BLOOD. 127 

battle of Bun-ker Hill, Wash-ing-ton arrived at the A-mer-i-can camp, and 
took command July 2. During the remainder of the year he was fully occu- 
pied in bringing the army into a state of steady discipline, in providing for its 
wants, and in watching the Bri-tish shut up in Bos-ton. The right of his line 
was commanded by General Ward, and the left by General Charles Lee. 
Wash-ing-ton himself commanded the centre. Lee was formerly a Bri-tish 
officer, who had espoused the patriot cause, and was made a major-general by 
Con-gress. 

On the loth of May, the day on which Con-gress met, some Con-nec-ti- 
cut militia, under E-than Al-len and Ben-e-dict Ar-nold, captured the Bri-tish 
post at Ti-con-der-o-ga. Two days after. Crown Point was captured by 
Colonel Seth War-ner, with 150 cannon and a large amount of ammunition 
and stores, which proved of great service to the A-mer-i-cans. 





THE YOUNG MINUTE MAN. 



CHAPTER XVII. 
HARD TIMES. 

Early in the year of 1776, Wash-ing-ton learned that an expedition was 
to be sent against New York, and sent General Lee to collect volunteers from 
Con-nec-ti-cut and march to the defense of that city. It so happened that 
General Lee entered New York just as Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton arrived, so Clin-ton 
was obliged to sail away to Vir-gin-i-a. 

During the winter, the Bri-tish army were shut up in Bos-ton and 
watched closely by Wash-ing-ton, whose army, Jan-u-a-ry i, did not amount 
to 10,000 men. Gage had been superseded, on account of the battle of Bun-ker 
Hill, by Sir Wil-liam Howe. Wash-ing-ton hoped to be able to make an 
attack on the Bri-tish when the harbor was frozen, but the winter was a very 
open one, and nothing could be done in that way. Resolute in his purpose to 
drive the enemy from the city, Wash-ing-ton, on the night of the 4th of March, 
marched to Dor-ches-ter Heights, and, before morning, threw up earth-works 
which completely commanded Bos-ton. Howe, feeling that he must dislodge 
the A-mer-i-cans from the heights or evacuate the city, made immediate 
preparations for an assault; but a severe storm delayed him, and by the time 
it subsided the works had been made too strong to be easily taken. Nothing 
was left for the Bri-tish but to evacuate Bos-ton; and on March 17th they 
embarked on board the fleet, taking with them some 1,500 royalists, and 
sailed for Hal-i-fax. This bloodless victory was hailed with joy throughout 
the colonies. Con-gress passed a unanimous vote of thanks to Wash-ing-ton, 
and ordered a gold medal to be struck in remembrance of the event. Wash- 
ing-ton being anxious about New York, sent ofif the main body of his army 
to that place. 

The first point of attack proved to be, not New York, but Charles-ton, 
South Car-o-li-na. A Bri-tish squadron, under Admiral Par-ker, came from 
Ire-land, and was joined at Cape Fear by Clin-ton. After some delay, they 
sailed to attack Charles-ton, and appeared ofif harbor June 4. The Car-o-li-na 

9 129 




INDEPENDENCE HALL. 



HARD TIMES. 131 

patriots, notified of their danger, had thrown up some works on Sul-li-van's 
Is-land, and placed Colonel Moul-trie there with a regiment. When the 
Bri-tish ships attempted to enter the harbor, June 28, they became entangled 
in the shoals, and were met with so furious a fire from the fort that they 
were compelled to retire with heavy loss.' One of their vessels was abandoned. 
The Bri-tish soon after sailed for New York, to join the troops that were as- 
sembling in that neighborhood. 

On the same day that Fort Moul-trie was attacked. General Howe 
landed on Sta-ten Is-land from Hal-i-fax with the Bos-ton army and other 
re-enforcements. Admiral Lord Howe, the brother of the general, arrived 
from Eng-land shortly after with more troops, raising the number to 30,000 
men. A large part of these were Hes-sians, hired by the Eng-lish from the 
Duke of Hes-se-Cas-sel in Ger-ma-ny. Wash-ing-ton in the meantime was not 
idle, having fortified Man-hat-tan Is-land at several points. Defenses were 
also thrown up on a range of hills on Long Is-land, south of Brook-lyn, and 
here was an entrenched camp, at first under General Greene, and afterward 
under General Put-nam. The A-mer-i-can forces in and around New York 
were about 25,000, but scarcely 17,000 were fit for duty on account of sickness. 

The Bri-tish crossed over Sta-ten Is-land to Long Is-land, and, on the 
morning of the 27th of Au-gust, advanced in three divisions. Two of these 
occupied the attention of the A-mer-i-cans in front, while Clinton, with the 
other, marched by a wide circuit and struck the A-mer-i-cans in the rear. For 
a time the latter fought well; but, finding themselves nearly surrounded, they 
retreated with great loss within the intrenchments at Brook-lyn. 

Wash-ing-ton crossed over to Brook-lyn during the action, and saw, 
with indescribable agony, the destruction of his "brave fellows." The A-mer-i- 
cans had suffered severely. They had lost 2,000 out of 5,000 men engaged. 
Had the Bri-tish followed up their success, and attacked the intrenched camp, 
the A-mer-i-cans must have been utterly destroyed; but Howe waited till the 
following morning. Fortunately for the A-mer-i-cans, the next day, the 28th, 
was one of drenching rain, and the enemy did nothing but break ground for a 
battery. On the 29th a dense fog covered the island, but news reached Wash- 
ing-ton that the Bri-tish ships were preparing to move up into the East River 
and thus cut off his retreat. 

In this state of afTairs, with the enemy so near his works that he could 
hear them in their camp, he accomplished one of the most brilliant operations 



132 



HARD TIMES. 



of the war. On the 29th he collected what boats he could find on the East 
and North Rivers, and during the night moved his whole army across to 
New York. During all this time a heavy fog prevailed on Long Is-land, con- 
cealing the movements of the A-mer-i-cans from the Bri-tish, while, at the 
same time, the weather was quite clear on the New York side. Howe was 
greatly chagrined to find that his enemy had escaped from Brook-lyn, and 

r 




BATTLE OF HARLEM HEIGHTS. 



secretly made preparations, with the assistance of his ships, to surround Wash- 
ing-ton in New York. 

The A-mer-i-can officers, in a council of war, held Sep-tem-ber 12, 
decided that the city could not be held, and the main body of the army was 
withdrawn on the 14th to the northern part of the island, the most southern 
point of defense being on Har-lem Heights. Wash-ing-ton was anxious to 
learn what were the designs of the Bri-tish, and Na-than Hale, a young cap- 
tain in a Con-nec-ti-cut regiment volunteered to ascertain them. He ac- 



HARD TIMES. 133 

cordingly crossed over to Long Is-land, and, having obtained the necessary 
information, was on his way back, when he was arrested on suspicion and 
taken to Howe's headquarters, now, Sep-tem-ber 21st, on New York Is-land. 
Without even the form of a trial, he was next morning hanged as a spy, 
Sep-tem-ber 22. He met his death with great firmness, regretting that he 
had only one life to lose for his country. 

On the 15th of Sep-tem-ber, the Bri-tish crossed in force from Long 
Is-land, and landed, with trifling opposition, about three miles above the city. 
They presently occupied a line stretching across New York Is-land from 
Bloom-ing-dale to the East River. On the i6th a severe skirmish took place, 
in which the Con-nec-ti-cut troops behaved with great valor, and drove back 
the enemy. In the affair Colonel Knowl-ton was killed. This success raised the 
spirits of the troops, which had been much depressed since the battle of Long 
Is-land. Howe now tried to get to the rear of the A-mer-i-can army. Leav- 
ing his own lines in front well guarded, he landed the main body in East 
Ches-ter, while the fleet went up the North River on the west side. Wash- 
ing-ton saw Howe's plan, and, having left 3,000 men to defend Fort Wash- 
ing-ton, on the heights overlooking the Hud-son, fell back to the line of the 
River Bronx, with his head-quarters at White Plains. Here he was attacked 
on Oc-to-ber 28, and compelled to retire to the heights of North Cas-tle. 

Howe was unwilling to follow him farther, and returned with the main 
body of his army to Dobb's Fer-ry, on the Hud-son. Wash-ing-ton left Lee 
at North Cas-tle, and, after providing for the defense of the High-lands, crossed 
the river at King's Fer-ry with a portion of his army, and entered New Jer-sey, 
where he joined General Greene at Fort Lee, November 13. While he was 
here, 5,000 Hes-sians, under General Kny-phau-sen, assisted by some Eng- 
lish troops, attacked Fort Wash-ing-ton, defended by Colonel Ma-gaw. The 
place was taken by storm, No-vem-ber 16, with a loss to the assailants of 
nearly 1,000 men, chiefly Hes-sians. Over 2,000 A-mer-i-cans were made 
prisoners. 

Four days after, No-vem-ber 20, Lord Corn-wal-lis was sent across the 
Hud-son into New Jer-sey, at the head of 6,000 men to follow Wash-ing-ton, 
On his approach. Fort Lee was abandoned by the A-mer-i-cans, together with 
all the baggage and military stores. Wash-ing-ton retreated across New Jer-sey 
at a rapid rate, followed so closely by Corn-wal-lis that the vanguard of the 
latter was often within cannon-shot of the A-mer-i-cans. 



HARD TIMES. 135 

The condition of the latter at this time was very distressing. Many 
of the mihtia went quietly to their homes. Those that remained were wretched- 
ly clothed, ill fed, and utterly worn out. On the 8th of De-cem-ber, with 
scarcely 3,000 men, Wash-ing-ton crossed the Del-a-ware into Penn-syl-van-i-a 
and Corn-wal-lis and his troops went into quarters on the New Jer-sey side 
of the river. During this long and painful retreat, Wash-ing-ton sent repeated 
and positive orders to Lee at North Cas-tle to cross the Hud-son and join him 
with his troops. The latter hesitated, and moved so slowly to the support of 
his commander that he was no farther than Mor-ris-town on the 8th of De-cem- 
ber. On the 13th, while lying carelessly quartered apart from his troops, in 
a small tavern at Bas-ken-ridge, he was surprised and made prisoner by a 
troop of Bri-tish cavalry. The command then devolved on General Sul-li-van, 
who joined Wash-ing-ton a few days afterward. 

The arm^ was now considerably increased, and Wash-ing-ton deter- 
mined to strike a sudden blow before the term of a large part of the troops 
should expire. A body of 1,500 Hes-sians at Tren-ton was chosen as the object 
of attack. On the night of De-cem-ber 25, Wash-ing-ton, with 2,400 of his best 
men, crossed the Del-a-ware with great difficulty, nine miles above Tren-ton. 
Two other divisions, crossing at different points, were to co-operate with 
him, but were prevented by the floating ice. Amid a storm of rain and sleet, 
Wash-ing-ton pushed on, and at eight o'clock in the morning fell suddenly 
on the enemy. About thirty or forty Hes-sians were killed; about 500 escaped 
to Bor-den-town ; and the remainder, to the number of i.ooo, threw down their 
arms and surrendered. In the evening Wash-ing-ton re-entered Penn-syl- 
va-ni-a with his prisoners. 

The spirits of the people were raised to a very high pitch by this 
successful movement, executed with so much energy and so little loss, at a 
time, too, when their affairs seemed sunk to the lowest point. Several regi- 
ments whose term of service was about to expire were persuaded to remain 
six weeks longer, and Wash-ing-ton re-crossed the Del-a-ware on the 30th of 
De-cem-ber and took post at Tren-ton. The Bri-tish, astonished and. alarmed 
at the activity of the A-mer-i-cans, broke up their scattered encampments on 
the Del-a-ware, and assembled at Prince-ton; while, at the same time, Howe 
ordered Corn-wal-lis, who was about to embark for Eng-land, to resume his 
command in New Jer-sey. 




GEORGE WASHINGTON. 



CHAPTER XVIII. 
CROSSING THE DELAWARE. 

Wash-ing-ton, while encamped at Tren-ton, was informed that the Bri- 
tish were assembling in the neighborhood of Prince-ton for a movement 
toward the Del-a-ware. By his urgent order, Generals Mif-flin and Cad-wal- 
la-der joined him on the ist of Jan-u-a-ry with 3,500 men. Toward sunset on 
the 2nd, General Corn-wal-lis, with the van of the Bri-tish army, arrived at 
Tren-ton, and made repeated attempts to pass the little stream that runs 
through the town, but was often repulsed by the artillery of the A-mer-i-cans. 
Corn-wal-lis therefore concluded to wait for his re-enforcements, and renew 
the attack on the following day. 

The situation of Wash-ing-ton was most critical. In front was an ap- 
proaching army of 7,000 men; in the rear was the Del-a-ware, impassable by 
reason of floating ice. From this position he determined to extricate his troops 
by a bold and rapid maneuvre. During the night he sent his heavy baggage 
down to Bur-ling-ton, and, leaving his camp-fires burning to deceive the 
enemy, marched his little army by a round-about road toward the Bri-tish 
post at Prince-ton. On the morning of the 3rd, his advance guard, under 
General Mer-cer, met about 800 Bri-tish near that place on their way to join 
Corn-wal-lis, and a sharp engagement followed. The A-mer-i-cans were at 
first worsted; but Wash-ing-ton, coming up, routed the enemy with a loss of 
100 killed and 300 prisoners. General Mer-cer was mortally wounded. 

Corn-wal-lis, who heard the firing, came rapidly up from his camp at 
Tren-ton; but he was too late to take part in the battle. Wash-ing-ton, 
destroying the bridges behind him, fell back to the heights of Mor-ris-town, 
while Corn-wal-lis, anxious for the safety of the stores at New Bruns-wick. 
pushed swiftly to that point. Though Wash-ing-ton had but the shadow of 
an army at Mor-ris-town during the winter, he displayed so much activity, and 
so harassed the Bri-tish, that by the beginning of spring they had abandoned 
every post in New Jer-sey except New Bruns-wick and Perth Am-boy. 

137 



138 



CROSSING THE DELAWARE. 



Toward the end of A-pril, General Howe dispatched General Try-on, 
ex-governor of New York, at the head of 2,000 men, to destroy a large quan- 
tity of A-mer-i-can stores collected at Dan-bury, a small town in the western 
part of Con-nec-ti-cut, 23 miles from the Sound. Try-on landed, A-pril 26, 
between Fair-field and Nor-walk, marched to Dan-bury, destroyed the stores 




RECRUITING. 

without hindrance, and set fire to the town. On his retreat, which commenced 
before daylight on the 27th, and continued two days, he was attacked by the 
militia, under the command of Generals Woos-ter and Sul-li-van, and also 
Ben-e-dict Ar-nold, who volunteered as a leader. At length the Bri-tish were 
able to reach their shipping with the loss of nearly. 300 men. The A-mer-i-cans 



CROSSING THE DELAWARE. 139 

lost the brave General Woos-ter, a veteran in his sixty-eighth year. Ar-nold, 
who had two horses shot under him, displayed so much daring gallantry that 
he was made a major general by Con-gress. 

The burning of Dan-bury was revenged by the Con-nec-ti-cut troops 
in the following month. Colonel Meigs, with 120 men, in whale-boats, crossed 
the Sound to the east end of Long Is-land on the 23rd of May, destroyed a 
great quantity of stores and 12 vessels at Sag Har-bor, took 90 prisoners, and 
returned in 25 hours without the loss of a man. An exploit still more daring, 
and equally successful, was the capture of General Pres-cott, the commander 
of the Bri-tish forces in Rhode Is-land, in the month of Ju-ly, by Colonel 
Bar-ton and 40 men. In the silence of the night of the loth they crossed 
Nar-ra-gan-sett Bay, passed by the Bri-tish guard ships unchallenged, landed, 
and surprised Pres-cott at his own quarters in bed. Bar-ton then returned un- 
molested with his prisoner to the main land. Wash-ing-ton had now in his 
hands a general that could be exchanged for General Lee, captured very much 
in the same way by the Bri-tish. 

Through the efforts of the A-mer-i-can commissioners in France, there 
arrived in 1776 and 1777 a large number of foreign military ofhcers who offered 
their services to Con-gress. Wash-ing-ton complained that they were so 
numerous he did not know how to find employment for them; and he hinted 
that their appointment by Con-gress to places of higher rank than those given 
to faithful A-mer-i-can ofBcers was producing very ill feeling in the army. 
vSeveral of these foreigners, who became afterward well known, were the 
famous Kos-ci-us-ko and Count Pu-las-ki, two young Po-lish officers and 
patriots; Con-way, an I-rish-man by birth, but 30 years in the French army, and 
after entering the A-mer-i-can service, one of the most unprincipled of Wash- 
i)ig-ton's enemies; the young French Mar-quis de La-fay-ette, who purchased a 
ship, and, in opposition to the wishes of the French government, came over 
together with Bar-on de Kalb, and others. Later came Bar-on Steu-ben, a 
Prus-sian general trained under Fred-er-ick the Great, who did great service 
to the A-mer-i-can army in perfecting its discipline. 

On the 1 2th of June, General Howe left New York and went to New 
Bruns-wick. From that point he tried to get to the rear of the A-mer-i-can 
army and bring on a general engagement. Bafifled in this, after several at- 
tempts, he then, on the 30th of June, crossed over with his entire force to 
Sta-ten Is-land, leaving no Bri-tish troops in New Jer-sey. At San-dy Hook 
General Howe found his brother. Lord Howe, with his fleet. On board this 




^s,>s_^ 








xmf^w:^ 



CROSSING THE DELAWARE. 141 

he embarked 18,000 men, and sailed to the head of Ches-a-peake Bay, where 
he landed his troops near Elk River, in Ma-ry-land, 60 miles south of Phil-a- 
del-phi-a, Au-gust 25. Howe then advanced northward to the capital as far 
as the Bran-dy-wine River. 

Wash-ing-ton, who had not understood Howe's object until he was well 
on his way, by forced marches reached the Bran-dy-wine before the arrival of 
the Bri-tish, and at Chad's Ford was prepared to resist their crossing, Sep- 
tem-ber 11. General Kny-phau-sen, at the head of the Hes-sians, was ordered 
to make a feint as if he were about to try the ford. Meanwhile Corn-wal-lis. 
with a large portion of the army, crossed higher up, and, falling on Wash- 
ing-ton's flank, compelled him to retreat with the loss of 1,200 men. For his 
bravery in this battle, Count Pu-las-ki was made a brigadier general. To com- 
plete the disaster at the Bran-dy-wine, General Wayne, a few days after, while 
watching the Bri-tish, was himself so suddenly surprised near Pa-o-li Ta-vern 
that he lost 300 men. The loss of the enemy was only seven. 

As the Bri-tish continued to advance, Wash-ing-ton gave up hope of 
saving Phil-a-del-phi-a, and fell back to Potts-grove, on the Schuyl-kill. Con- 
gress left the city, and, after a few days, assembled at York, Penn-syl-va-ni-a. 
Howe entered Phil-a-del-phi-a Sep-tem-ber 26, and stationed the bulk of his 
army in camp at Ger-man-town, at that time a small village about ten miles 
distant. Wash-ing-ton, having received re-enforcements, on learning that two 
detachments of Bri-tish had been sent away, left his camp on the Schuyl-kill, 14 
miles above, marched all night, and at sunrise, Oc-to-ber 4, fell suddenly on 
the Bri-tish at Ger-man-town. The enemy were taken by surprise, and at 
first driven in disorder. Victory seemed within the grasp of Wash-ing- 
ton ; but, in the fog of the morning, the A-mer-i-can lines became broken and 
separated by the stone fences that lay near the village. A portion of the Bri- 
tish made a stand in a stone house; the rest of the army recovered from its 
surprise, and in turn drove the A-mer-i-cans back, with the loss of 1,000 men. 

Howe was in possession of Phil-a-del-phi-a, but the A-mer-i-cans still 
held command of the Del-a-ware, principally by means of Fort Mif-fiin on 
Mud Is-land, and Fort Mer-cer at Red Bank, opposite; there were also ob- 
structions placed in the channel of the river. These effectually prevented the 
Bri-tish ships from bringing supplies to Phil-a-del-phi-a. On Oc-to-ber 22, 
Count Do-nop, with 1,200 picked Hes-sians, attacked the fort at Red Bank, 
held by Colonel Greene, while the Bri-tish ships opened fire on Fort Mif-flin. 
Do-nop's attack was repulsed, and he himself killed, together with nearly 400 




ESCAPE OF BENEDICT ARNOW). 



CROSSING THE DELAWARE. 148 

of his men. Two Bri-tish ships were destroyed, and the rest retired, badly 
injured by the fire of the A-mer-i-can guns. 

The Bri-tish, soon after this repulse, erected batteries on a small island 
in the river, and on No-vem-ber loth opened a severe cannonade on Fort 
Mif-flin. The bombardment, in which the fleet joined, continued until the 
close of the 15th, when the works were nearly demolished; the garrison was 
withdrawn during the following night. Two days after, the fort at Red Bank 
was abandoned, and thus the river was open to the Bri-tish. Wash-ing-ton 
established his winter quarters at Val-ley Forge, on the Schuyl-kill, 20 miles 
from Phil-a-del-phi-a, while Howe kept his army within a strongly fortified 
line extending from the Del-a-ware to the Schuyl-kill. 

In the meantime General Bur-goyne had surrendered after making an 
attempt to invade the country by way of Canada. This news was received with 
great joy throughout the country, and many who before had sympathized with 
the Eng-lish government, now saw that victory was possible. Consequently 
many volunteers joined the A-mer-i-can army. 





PATRICK HENRY. 



CHAPTER XIX. 
VALLEY FORGE. 

The A-mer-i-can army, in their huts at Val-ley Forge, spent a very 
wretched winter amid the snow, many of them being without shoes, half clad, 
and all of them sufTering from want of provisions. The officers, as well as the 
men, were without pay, and Con-gress had no means of paying them. The 
distress of the army was so great that Wash-ing-ton was authorized to seize 
provisions wherever he could, and give bills on Con-gress for the amount. 
This was a harsh, though necessary measure ; but it, in some degree, improved 
the condition of the army. This period is considered the gloomiest in the 
war. 

During the winter occurred the famous plot, known as the Con-way 
Ca-bal. After the surrender of Bur-goyne, the reputation of Gates rose very 
high. While this was at its height, a few officers of the army, headed by Gen- 
erals Con-way and Mif-flin, to whom were joined some members of Con-gress, 
formed a plan to destroy the military reputation of Wash-ing-ton by charging 
him with want of energy and success. In this way they thought to compel 
him to resign, and then to elevate Gates to the command of the army. The 
plotting was very active and malignant while it continued, but Wash-ing-ton 
held too firm a place in the confidence of the people and the army to be easily 
shaken from it. The country Vv^as aroused; his enemies were baffled, and his 
popularity rose to a greater height than ever before. 

The spring of 1778 opened with a more chceria! state of things in the 
army and in Con-gress. The news of Bnr-goync*s strrender liad produced 
widely different feelings in France and Eng-land. The French court still re- 
membered with bitterness the loss of its A-mer-i-can colonies a few years 
before, and now saw with joy that Eng-land was likely to suffer in the same 
way. By the Eng-lish government the news was received with astonishment 
and alarm, which were increased by the knowledge that France was disposed 
to assist the colonies. The Eng-lish ministry, therefore, felt the necessity of 
10 145 




w 

w 

H 



VALLEY FORGE. 147 

offering terms to the A-mer-i-cans; and, accordingly, in Jan-u-a-ry. 1778, two 
bills were passed in Par-li-a-ment, one, renouncing all intention to levy taxes in 
A-mer-i-ca; the other, appointing five commissioners, with full powers to treat 
with the colonists for the restoration of the Eng-lish authority. 

Fortunately, soon after the news of the offer of these propositions in 
Par-li-a-ment reached A-mer-i-ca in A-pril, there arrived, in a French frigate, 
the intelligence that, in the month of Feb-ru-a-ry, France had agreed with the 
A-mer-i-can commissioners on two treaties with the U-nit-ed States; one, of 
friendship and commerce; and the other, of defensive alliance in case Great 
Bri-tain should declare war against France. No peace was to be made without 
mutual consent, and not until the independence of the U-nit-ed States had 
been acknowledged by Eng-land. These treaties, speedily ratified by Con- 
gress, strengthened the confidence of the A-mer-i-can patriots; and when the 
Eng-lish commissioners arrived in June, Con-gress declined to treat with them 
unless the independence of the colonies was first recognized, and the fleets and 
armies of Eng-land were withdrawn. 

In this determination Con-gress was still farther strengthened by 
what was occurring at Phil-a-del-phi-a. Sir Hen-ry Clin-ton, on the nth of 
May, took command there in place of General Howe, who was recalled. 
Orders were also received from Eng-land to withdraw the troops from Phil-a- 
del-phi-a, and the L3ri-tish fleet from the Del-a-ware, as a large French fleet for 
the assistance of the A-mer-i-cans, might be expected on the coast at an early 
moment. 

Clin-ton, soon after his arrival, made active preparations for the evacua- 
tion of the city, and, on the i8th of June, with his army of about 12,000 men, 
he left Phil-a-del-phi-a, crossed the Del-a-ware, and commenced his march 
through New Jer-sey to New York. Admiral Howe had already sailed with 
his fleet from the Del-a-ware, and anchored inside of San-dy Hook, ready for 
the arrival of Clin-ton. Wash-ing-ton, informed of Clin-ton's movements, 
crossed the Del-a-ware in pursuit on the 24th of June. Lee, who had been ex- 
changed for General Pres-cott, was second in command. The progress of the 
Bri-tish was hindered by the great quantity of baggage, and by the intense 
heat of the weather. Wash-ing-ton,who moved more rapidly ,came up with 
Clin-ton, near Mon-mouth Court-house, on the 27th of June, and determined 
to give him battle. 

On the 28th of June, Lee, with the advance body, moved forward to 
the attack; but the enemy were in greater force than was supposed, and Lee 




THE WASHINGTON ELM. 



VALLEY FORGE. 149 

fell back, in some disorder, to higher ground. Wash-ing-ton came up with 
the main body, and prevented serious disaster ; and the day closed, after severe 
fighting, without any positive advantage on either side. Wash-ing-ton in- 
tended to resume the battle in the morning, but before sunrise Clin-ton's army 
was far on its way toward the High-lands of Nave-sink. The A-mer-i-cans 
were so worn out with rapid marching, and the fatigue and intense heat of the 
previous day, that it was decided to abandon the pursuit; and, after a day's rest, 
they went to New Bruns-wick, where they encamped. Arriving at San-dy 
Hook, the Bri-tish were met by Lord Howe's fleet, and were conveyed to 
New York. Clin-ton's retreat had cost him, in killed, wounded, and by deser- 
tions, more than 2,000 men. 

When Lee was falling back at the battle of Mon-mouth, Wash-ing-ton 
rode up in great haste, and, being deeply irritated at what he saw, addressed 
Lee in angry terms. The latter was greatly oflfended at Wash-ing-ton's public 
rebuke, and, after the battle, addressed two haughty and offensive letters to 
his general, in which he demanded a speedy trial. Wash-ing-ton at once or- 
dered him to be arrested and tried by court-martial for disobedience of orders; 
for having made an unnecessary, shameful and disorderly retreat; and for 
disrespect to his commander in the letters he had written. He was acquitted 
of the most serious part of the charges, but was sentenced to be suspended from 
his command for one year. 

He thereupon retired to his estate in Vir-gin-i-a, in the Shen-an-do-ah 
Val-ley. Shortly after the expiration of the period of his sentence, he ad- 
dressed a hasty and insolent letter to Con-gress; and for this his name was 
promptly ordered to be struck from the rolls of the army. Brave, able, and a 
well-educated soldier, Lee's chief faults seem to have been an excessive 
opinion of his own abilities, and a too great readiness to criticize the military 
conduct of Wash-ing-ton. But there is no evidence that he ever joined the 
cabal of Gates, Con-way, and others, to ruin the commander-in-chief. The 
French fleet, under D'Es-taing, with 4,000 troops on board, arrived too late to 
find Admiral Howe in the Del-a-ware. The latter was safe in Rar-i-tan Bay, 
where the heavy French ships could not reach him. A combined movement 
against the Bri-tish army in Rhode Island, under General Pi-got, was ar- 
ranged, in which the A-mer-i-can troops, under General Sul-li-van, were to be 
assisted by the French fleet and army. 

On the 29th of Ju-ly, D'Es-taing's fleet arrived in Nar-ra-gan-sett Bay. 
On the 8th of Au-gust it entered the harbor, and passed the Bri-tish batteries 




INAUGURATION OF WASHINGTON. 



VALLEY FORGE. 151 

with little injury. This delay of a week was caused by the non-arrival of the 
A-mer-i-can troops; but it proved fatal to the enterprise, because it gave the 
brave and active Lord Howe time to arrive ofi the harbor of New-port, on the 
9th, to the assistance of General Pi-got. D'Es-taing promptly sailed out on 
the loth to give Lord Howe battle. Before the ships could engage, a terrible 
storm scattered and disabled both fleets. Howe made his way back to New 
York, and D'Es-taihg's fleet returned to the bay in a forlorn condition, but 
soon sailed to Bos-ton to refit. 

Sul-li-van, in command of the A-mer-i-can forces, to the number of 
10,000 men, performed his part of the plan by advancing toward the Bri-tish 
lines at New-port. Here he waited for the co-operation of the French fleet and 
army that were to unite with him in an attack on the Bri-tish works. When 
D'Es-taing got back to New-port, he informed Sul-li-van that he was about 
to sail to Bos-ton to repair damages. Sul-li-van remonstrated, and asked him 
to remain two or three days, before the end of which time the place must fall; 
but D'Es-taing remained firm to his purpose. Still again Sul-li-van asked that 
the French troops might be left. This also was refused. 

Thus left to his own recources, Sul-li-van was compelled to fall back 
to the north end of the island, pursued by the Bri-tish. On the 29th, an ob- 
stinate engagement was fought at Qua-ker Hill, but the advantage remained 
with the A-mer-i-cans. Meanwhile rumors had reached Sul-li-van that as- 
sistance to Pi-got was on the way from New York. There was no time for 
delay. On the night of the 30th, the A-mer-i-can army, with great skill and 
without loss, was transported to the mainland. It was not too soon. Next 
day Clin-ton arrived at New-port, in a light squadron, with a re-enforcement 
of 4,000 men. 

Clin-ton made use of the troops that had arrived a day too late in 
sending them, under Major General Grey, to ravage the coasts to the eastward. 
This was the same energetic but merciless officer that surprised General Wayne 
at Pa-o-H Ta-vern, in Penn-syl-va-ni-a. Grey made terrible havoc among the 
shipping on the coasts; laid waste New Bed-ford, Fair Ha-ven, and the island 
of ]\Iar-tha's Mnc-yard, and returned, with a great amount of plunder, to 
New York. 

The conduct had already been far surpassed in Penn-syl-va-ni-a. In 
the beginning of Ju-ly, about 1,100 tories and In-di-ans, under Colonel John 
But-ler and the In-di-an chief Brandt, entered the Val-ley of Wy-om-ing, on 
the Sus-que-han-na. After defeating an armed body of settlers, they laid waste 



152 



VALLEY FORGE. 



the fields, burned the houses, and murdered the inhabitants under circum- 
stances of great cruelty. Nearly the same dreadful atrocities were perpetrated 
at Cher-ry Val-ley in No-vem-ber following. The country for miles around 
was a scene of murder and bloodshed. 

Toward the end of the year, Clin-ton sent an expedition to Geor-gia, 
imder Colonel Camp-bell, to attack Sa-van-nah. This was fortified and held 
by a garrison of about i,ooo men, under General Rob-ert Howe. After severe 
fighting, the Bri-tish took possession of the city on the 29th of De-cem-ber. 




OLD BEACON HILL, BOSTON 



During the winter the French fleet was in the West In-dies, whither Admiral 
Howe had followed it. 

The war had now lasted four years, and the Bri-tish, after tremendous 
exertions, held, in the North, only New York Is-land and Nar-ra-gan-sett Bay. 
In the South they had only gained a foothold in Geor-gia; while, on the other 
hand, the A-mer-i-cans had become more formidable than ever by means of 
the French alhance. Yet the A-mer-i-can cause was still laboring under great 



VALLEY FORGE 153 

difficulties. Con-gress had very little specie, and had issued so much paper 
money that it had become nearly worthless. Everything must have gone to 
ruin had it not been for the exertions of Rob-ert Mor-ris, a member of Con- 
gress from Phil-a-del-phi-a; in which city he was a leading merchant. He 
borrowed large sums of money on his own credit, and lent them to the govern- 
ment. This he continued to do until the the close of the war. Notwithstand- 
ing all this, the army were still heavy suflferers from want, not only of their pay, 
but of the necessaries of life. 





WINTER SPORTS. 



CHAPTER XX. 
TREASON. 

At the close of the year 1779 Clin-ton sailed south, with the main body 
of his army, in the fleet of Admiral Ar-buth-not, leaving General K-ny-phau- 
sen in command at New York. In the month of Feb-ru-a-ry, 1780, the Bri- 
tish landed at St. John's Is-land, 30 miles below Charles-ton; and, while Clin- 
ton moved by land to the banks of the Ash-ley, opposite the city, the fleet 
sailed around to enter Charles-ton Har-bor. The approach of the Bri-tish was 
"SO slow and cautious that Lin-coln, the A-mer-i-can general at Charles-ton, 
had time to strengthen his works, and to add to his garrison of regulars a num- 
ber of militia from the surrounding country. It was not until A-pril that the 
Bri-tish fleet, with little damage, passed the fire of Fort Moul-trie, on Sul-li- 
van's Is-land, and took a position off the city. A few days before, Clin-ton 
had thrown up works, and commenced preparations for a regular siege. 

At different points, some miles north of the city, there were stationed 
bodies of A-mer-i-can militia to keep open the communications with the coun- 
try. ■ Against these posts active Bri-tish officers were sent soon after the siege 
began. On the night of A-pril 14, Colonel Tar-le-ton fell suddenly on a body 
of 1,400 A-mer-i-can cavalry, under General Hu-ger at Monk's Corner, 30 
miles north of Charles-ton, and defeated them witlv severe loss, capturing a 
great quantity of military stores. Other A-mer-i-ican posts were also taken. 

Clin-ton pressed the siege of Charles-ton with vigor, and Lin-coln's sit- 
uation became every day more and more distressing. His works were de- 
stroyed by the enemy's cannon, which approached very close; his communica- 
tions with the country were cut ofi; and, seeing no hope of relief, he sur- 
rendered the city and the garrison on the 12th of May. The prisoners, in- 
cluding every male adult in the city, amounted to about 6,000. 

After the surrender, Clin-ton sent off three expeditions to overrun and 
subjugate South Car-o-li-na. One of these, commanded by Tar-le-ton, overtook 
at Wax-haw Creek, May 29, a regiment of Vir-gin-i-a troops, under Colonel 
Bu-ford, which had retreated into North Car-o-li-na after the fall of Charles- 

155 



!,')() 



TREASON. 



ton, and put nearly all of them to the sword. The other expeditions met with 
no resistance. South Car-o-li-na was brought so completely under Bri-tish 
rule, that Clin-ton set sail in the early part of June for New York, leaving, 
Corn-wal-lis to secure its conquest. The Car-o-li-nas abounded in tories, who 
now joined the Bri-tish forces in large numbers. On the other hand, there 
were bands of A-mer-i-can patriots in those states, called partisan corps, who 
were very active under such leaders as Ma-ri-on, Sum-ter and Pick-ens. At 




A DISTRICT SCHOOL. 



Hang-ing Rock, east of the VVa-te-ree River, Sum-ter defeated a large body 
of regulars and tories, Au-gust 6th. 

To make a rallying point for the formation of a regular army. Wash 
ing-ton sent Baron De Kalb, with two regiments, to the South; and Con- 
gress dispatched General Gates, the conqueror of Bur-goyne, to take command 
of operations in the Car-o-li-nas. In a short time Gates was able to draw a 
considerable force around him. With this he unexpectedly met the Bri-tish, 



TREASON. 157 

under Corn-wal-lis, at San-der's Creek, near Cam-den, Au-gust i6. The battle 
was short and violent. At the first charge of the Bri-tish the A-mer-i-can mi- 
litia fled; but the regulars under De Kalb, stood firm, although attacked in 
front and flank. De Kalb at last fell mortally wounded; and then the battle 
became a disorderly retreat, the pursuit by the Bri-tish continuing for nearly 
30 miles. The A-mer-i-can army was completely dispersed. Two or three 
days after, Gates and a few of his oflficers rested at a point 80 miles distant from 
the field of Cam-den. 

To sum the disasters to the A-mer-i-can cause, Tar-le-ton meanwhile 
had surprised Sum-ter on the i8th of Au-gust at Fish-ing Creek, on the west 
bank of the Ca-taw-ba, and nearly destroyed his whole partisan- corps. All 
united resistance to the Bri-tish in South Car-o-li-na was for a time at an end. 
Gates, after several attempts, was unable to draw together more than 1,000 
men; and Con-gress, dissatisfied with his management, removed him from the 
command. On Wash-ing-ton's recommendation. General Na-than-i-el Greene 
was appointed in the place of Gates. Corn-wal-lis used his power with great 
severity. He hanged some of the patriots and imprisoned great numbers. 
This roused a feeling of vengeance among the people, and started partisan 
warfare into new life. Ma-ri-on came from among the swamps, whither he 
had retired, and Sum-ter raised a fresh band. 

In Sep-tem-ber Corn-wal-lis marched his main body into North Car-o- 
li-na as far as Char-lotte, and dispatched Major Fer-gu-son to rally the tories 
in the interior among the mountains. On his route Fer-gu-son was attacked 
in camp at King's Moun-tain, Oc-to-ber 7, by a large body of backwoods rifle- 
men, under Colonel Campbell, and himself, with some 150, was killed; the re- 
mainder were taken prisoners. The tories in Fer-gu-son's band had been 
guilty of great cruelties, and had deeply exasperated the inhabitants. After 
the battle, the North Car-o-li-na backwoodsmen hanged a number of the tory 
prisoners on the spot. Corn-wal-lis, when he heard the news of Fer-gu-son's 
defeat, fell back into South Car-o-li-na, between the Broad and Sa-Iu-da 
Rivers. Here he remained until the close of the year. 

The sufi'ering in the A-mer-i-can camp at Mor-ris-town continued to in- 
crease as spring opened. In May there was absolute famine among the troops. 
To such a point of desperation were the soldiers driven, that two regiments of 
the Con-nec-ti-cut line avowed their purpose to march home or gain subsis- 
tence at the point of the bayonet. It required all the influence of Wash- 




PEACEFUL DAYS. 



TREASON. 159 

ing-ton to restore order, and to obtain supplies of food for the soldiers. So 
serious was the danger that Con-gress authorized him to declare martial law. 

While Clin-ton was in the South, K-ny-phau-sen, hearing of the state 
of things in the A-mer-i-can camp, determined to strike a blow. On the 6th 
of June he landed with 5,000 men at E-liz-a-beth-town, and advanced toward 
Spring-field. He experienced serious resistance; and, after burning the village 
oi Con-nec-ti-cut Farms, returned to E-liz-a-beth Town. Clinton arrived 
with the fleet and part of the army from the South on June 7. K-ny-phau-sen 
again moved forward toward Spring-field, and on the 23rd, attacked the 
A-mer-i-cans, under General Greene, who, after a sharp fight, fell back in good 
order to the heights. The Bri-tish, checked by Greene's spirited resistance, 
after burning Spring-field, marched back to E-liz-a-beth-town. 

La-fay-ette, who had spent the winter in France, was successful in per- 
suading the French court to send a new fleet and army to the help of the 
A-mer-i-cans, and brought over the good news in A-pril. Accordingly, in 
Ju-ly, the fleet, under Admiral De Tier-nay, arrived at New-port with an army 
of nearly 7,000 men, under the command of Count De Ro-cham-beau. Great 
expectations were formed from this assistance; but, unfortunately, the Bri-tish 
fleet on the A-mer-i-can coast was heavily re-enforced. This prevented the 
French ships from leaving Nar-ra-gan-sett Bay, and for a time banished the 
hope of any combined operations with the fleet and army, that Wash-ing-ton 
and the nation had deeply at heart. 

At the very time that Wash-ing-ton was absent at Hart-ford, Con- 
nec-ti-cut, consulting with De Tier-nay and De Ro-cham-bcau on the best plan 
to render useful the French fleet and army, treason was plotting to put into 
the hands of the Bri-tish West Point, the strongest fortress in the country. 
The traitor was Ben-e-dict Arn-old. The wounds he received before Que-bec 
and at Sar-a-to-ga had rendered him unfit for active duty in the field, and 
through the influence of Wash-ing-ton he was placed in military command of 
Phil-a-del-phi-a after its evacuation by Clin-ton in 1778. Here he lived ex- 
pensively and far beyond his means ; or, as was asserted, far from what befitted 
a republican general. 

In his command he was somewhat overbearing, and quarreled with the 
Penn-syl-va-ni-a authorities, who made complaints to Con-gress against him 
for abuse of his high position by embezzling or misusing public property. On 
this charge he was tried, and sentenced to be reprimanded by Wash-ing-ton, 
who, notwithstanding all this, still retained the highest confidence in his 




G 

w 



TREASON. 16i 

personal honor and braver)', Ar-nold's pride was, however, greatly wounded 
by the sentence. In Au-gust, 1780, after earnest solicitation, he obtained from 
W'ash-ing-ton the command of West Point, and at once entered into a cor- 
respondence with Clin-ton at New York with reference to the surrender of that 
important place to the Brit-ish. The person who conducted the correspondence 
with Ar-nold on the part of Clin-ton was Major An-dre, under the assumed 
name of John An-der-son. 

When the affair had been sufficiently understood by letter, An-dre went 
up the Hud-son in the sloop of war Vul-ture, and was met near Ha-ver-straw 
on the west bank by Ar-nold, Sep-tem-ber 22. Here all the arrangements for 
the surrender were completed. Meanwhile, the Vul-ture, commanded by the 
A-mer-i-cans, had dropped lower down the river, and An-dre, with a pass from 
Ar-nold under his assumed name, was compelled to return by land on the east 
side. When he had ridden as far as Tar-ry-town, at a turn of the road his 
horse's reins were suddenly seized by one of three militiamen, and, being for 
the moment surprised, he did not at first use his pass. He was searched, and 
the plans of West Point were found concealed in his boots. He then offered 
his pufse, his watch — any reward, indeed, that they might demand, if they 
would let him pass, but they refused. They took him to the nearest A-mer-i- 
can post, and the commander thoughtlessly permitted An-dre to write to Ar- 
nold telling him that An-der-son was taken. Immediately on receipt of this 
letter, Ar-nold escaped in his own barge down the river, and was taken on 
board the Vul-ture. 

An-dre was tried by court-martial as a spy. When before the court, 
he stated his connection with the w^hole affair with the utmost frankness. On 
these statements he was condemned to death, and was hung at Tap-pan. near 
the Hud-son Oc-to-ber 2, 1780. Con-gress voted each of the militiamen, 
— Pauld-ing, \^an Wart and Williams, a pension of 200 dollars a year for life, 
and a silver medal. Ar-nold received for his treachery the appointment of 
brigadier general of the Bri-tish army, and iio,ooo sterling; but his conduct 
was detested by the great bulk of the Bri-tish officers .nearly as much as by the 
A-mer-i-can patriots. The A-mer-i-can cause had made a narrow and most 
fortunate escape from disaster. The loss of West Point would have proved an 
almost irreparable injury to the countr)'. It would have given the Bri-tish 
the command of the Hud-son, thereby separating the Mid-die States from the 
East-ern. and for a time would have completely disarranged all the plans of 
Wash-ing-ton. 

11 




CAPTURE OF ANDRE. 



CHAPTER XXI. 
VICTORY AT LAST. 

A large part of the A-mer-i-can army spent the wjnter of 1780-81 at 
Mor-ris-town, under General Wayne. They were better provided with food 
than in the previous winter, but they still sufifered much from the want of pay 
and clothing-. The troops from Penn-syl-va-ni-a had an additional grievance. 
Many of them had enlisted to serve for three years or the war. The three years 
had ended, and their discharge was refused on the ground that by the war was 
meant a longer time than three years, should fighting continue; whereas the 
men contended that it meant a shorter time than three years, if the war ended 
before that time. 

On the 1st of Jan-u-a-ry, the Penn-syl-va-ni-a Hne, to the number of 
1,300, under arms, left the camp at Mor-ris-town and commenced their march 
to Phil-a-del-phi-a, to demand redress from Con-gress. General Wayne inter- 
posed, but they threatened to bayonet him if he used force. In an attempt on 
the part of the officers to repress the mutiny, several were wounded and a 
captain was killed. They halted at Prince-ton, where Bri-tish agents from 
Clih-ton met them with inducements to join the Bri-tish service. The Penn- 
syl-va-ni-ans showed their patriotism by seizing these men and delivering them 
up to General Wayne as spies. 

Con-gress was alarmed, and a committee of that body, and another 
from the Penn-syl-va-ni-a Assembly, proceeded to meet the troops. An agree- 
ment was entered into discharging those who had served three years, and 
making provision for back pay and clothing. These concessions on the part of 
Con-gress produced an injurious effect on the rest of the army. The troops 
at Pomp-ton, New Jer-sey, mutinied on the 20th of Jan-u-a-ry, but Wash-ing- 
ton sent a detachment from West Point which quickly reduced the mutineers to 
obedience. Such disturbances showed plainly that extraordinary exertions were 
demanded to relieve the sufferings of the troops, otherwise the cause would be 
lost. Con-gress acted with vigor. Direct taxation was resorted to; money 

168 




HENRY CLAY. 



VICTORY AT LAST. 165 

was obtained from Europe; a national bank was established; and full power 
was placed in the hands of Rob-ert Mor-ris to adopt what measures he deemed 
best to restore the well nigh ruined finances of the country. These exertions 
were partly successful. 

In the beginning of Jan-u-a-ry, the traitor Ar-nold, now in the service of 
the Bri-tish, at the head of 1,500 men, principally tories, ascended the James 
River, plundered the plantations, and burned many public and private buildings 
in Rich-mond, Governor Thom-as Jef-fer-son called out the militia, and 
Ar-nold fell back to Ports-mouth. A plan was laid by Wash-ing-ton for his 
capture at this place. La-fay-ettc was ordered to move with 1,200 men by land, 
and the French fleet, sailing from New-port, was to prevent the escape of Ar- 
nold from E-liz-a-beth River. The plan failed. Admiral Ar-buth-not, with 
a Bri-tish fleet, followed, and defeated the French ofif the entrance to the 
Ches-a-peake, compelling them to return to New-port. General Phil-lips pres- 
ently arrived from New York with 2,000 Bri-tish troops, threw up works at 
Ports-mouth, and assumed command. Ar-nold then returned to New York, 
while Phil-lips proceeded to ravage the country. 

Early in Jan-u-a-ry, Corn-wal-lis set his troops in motion toward North 
Car-o-li-na. Tar-le-ton was dispatched with a cavalry force to get between 
Greene and Mor-gan, who commanded a part of the A-mer-i-can army, and 
came up with the latter at the Cow-pens, Jan-u-a-ry 17. Tar-le-ton, dashing 
forward impetuously, as was his custom, at first swept everything before him; 
but Mor-gan turned suddenly on the Bri-tish when they were disarranged in 
pursuit, and defeated them with great loss. Corn-wal-lis, when he heard of this, 
moved with great speed to cut off Mor-gan's retreat into Vir-gin-i-a, but 
reached the Ca-taw-ba River a few hours after the latter had crossed. Corn- 
wal-lis waited until morning, and in the night the river became swollen with the 
rain, and prevented his crossing for several days. 

Determined on pursuit, he burned all his heavy baggage, and spared 
nothing but what was absolutely necessary. Mor-gan pushed on the Yad-kin 
River, and was there joined by General Greene, who took command and 
crossed. Corn-wal-lis reached the western bank just in time to see Greene's 
troops marching away from the other side. Here again the rain raised the 
water so high as to prevent the immediate crossing of the Bri-tish. The retreat 
and pursuit was continued from the Yad-kin to the River Dan. Both armies 
made the most unsparing exertions. The track of the A-mer-i-cans was marked 




^^^UyKc^r^ 



VICTORY AT LAST. 167 

by blood from their shoeless feet, but they were able to reach and cross the 
Dan a fCw hours before Corn-wal-lis arrived. The Bri-tish general, dis- 
heartened at his ill success, gave up the pursuit, and slowly made his way 
back into North Car-o-li-na. Greene received great honor for his skillful 
retreat. 

Being re-enforced, he in a short time resumed the offensive, and advanced 
into the Car-o-li-nas to watch Corn-wal-lis. On the 15th of March he made a 
stand at Guil-ford Court-house, where he was attacked by Corn-wal-lis, and 
driven back several miles. His defeat was nearly equal to a victory, for the 
Bri-tish loss in the battle was so very heavy that they were compelled to fall 
back to Wil-ming-ton, near the sea-coast. Greene then turned his attention 
to the Bri-tish forces in South Car-o-li-na, under the command of Lord Raw- 
don, at Cam-den, and encamped at Hob-kirk's Hill, about a mile from the 
Bri-tish camp. Here, on the 25th of A-pril, he was surprised and defeated. The 
loss on both sides was nearly equal, and Greene was able to retire in good 
order. The victory was of no value to Lord Raw-don; for, being unable to 
bring on another general engagement with Greene, and becoming anxious for 
the safety of the posts between Cam-den and tire coast, he retreated first to 
Nel-son's ?>r-ry, on the San-tee, and then to Monk's Cor-ner. 

So active, meanwhile, were the A-mer-i-can partisan officers, Ma-ri-on, 
Lee, and Pick-ens, that, by the month of June, 1781, only three important 
strong-holds were held by the Bri-tish in South Car-o-li-na — Charles-ton, 
Nel-son's Fer-ry, and Fort Nine-ty-six, near the Sa-lu-da. In Geor-gia, Au- 
gus-ta was surrendered on the 5th of June to Lee and Pick-ens, after a close 
siege of seven days. Greene himself marched again-st Nine-ty-six, defended by 
Car-o-li-na loyalists; and Raw-don, on learning this, moved rapidly to their 
relief. Greene received notice of his approach, and concluded to assault the 
fort before he arrived, but was repulsed, June i8th, with severe loss, and 
abandoned the siege. 

After the beginning of Ju-ly, the active movements of the two armies 
were suspended for a time on account of the intense heat of the sultry season. 
The partisan corps of tories and patriots still kept the field, rifling houses, killing 
each other, and sometimes not sparing women and children. The unavoid- 
able horrors of war were thus greatly increased ; and the desire for vengeance 
was rendered still more blood-thirsty by the execution of Colonel Hayne, a 
distinguished citizen of Charles-ton. 




GENERAL W. T. SHERMAX. 



VICTORY AT LAST. 169 

When the city was surrendered, he had given his parole of honor that 
he would not serve in the A-mer-i-can ranks. The Bri-tish commander, 
greatly in need of re-enforcements, demande4 his services in the army. Hayne 
refused, alleging tliat this demand was not within the meaning of the parole. 
He then headed a partisan corps, and was taken in arms and hanged, Au-gust 
4, in spite of the earnest entreaties of his fellow-townsmen. In retaliation, 
Greene felt compelled to execute as deserters all those prisoners who had 
formerly served in his own army; and it was not always possible to prevent 
the A-mer-i-can partisan troops from shooting the Bri-tish officers who fell 
into their hands. 

Raw-don went to Eng-land, and left the command of the troops to 
Colonel Stew-art. Greene, now re-enforced, and having been joined by Ma- 
ri-on and Pick-ens, marched with 2,500 men against him, and compelled him 
to fall back to Eu-taw Springs. Here he was attacked by Greene on the 8th of 
Sep-tem-ber; and, after severe fighting. Stew-art's left wing was driven in 
every direction. Unfortunately, the A-mer-i-can troops stopped to plunder the 
Bri-tish camp; this gave the enemy time to recover from their confusion and 
make a stand. Greene then drew off his troops, and left the field to the Bri-tish ; 
but the latter were unable to improve this advantage, because they had lost 
nearly one-third of their force, and during the following night they retreated 
in great haste. 

Greene, after following them as far as Monk's Cor-ner, returned with 
his barefooted and half naked troops to the high hills of San-tee. The result of 
the campaign in the Car-o-li-nas gave great satisfaction to Wash-ing-ton and 
to Con-gress. With limited means, and under the most trying difficulties, 
General Greene had repeatedly fought the enemy; and, although he never 
gained a decisive victory, yet, even when defeated, he obtained, to a con- 
siderable extent, the object for which he fought. In the end, he was able to 
wrest South Car-o-li-na from the Bri-tish, and restore that state to the A-mer- 
i-can Un-ion. 

On the 20th of A-pril Com-wal-lis left Wil-ming-ton, and on the 20th of 
May arrived, with scarce any resistance, at Pe-ters-burg, Vir-gin-i-a. At this 
point he was joined by Phil-ips and his troops, who had just been plundering 
on the James River. Clin-ton, afraid that the combined French and A-mer- 
i-can forces were about to attack New York, ordered Corn-wal-lis to move 
near the coast, that the latter might the more easily help him if this attack 




.GiiNfiRAL ULYSSBft ;». GRANT. 



VICTORY AT LAST. 171 

should be made. Accordingly, Corn-wal-lis, in the month of Au-gust, chose 
York-town and Glou-ces-ter Point, on opposite sides, at the mouth of York 
River. Here he threw up fortifications, and occupied' them with 8,000 men, 
the main body of which was at York-town. 

During the summer, Wash-ing-ton had been hoping, with the help of 
the French fleet and army, now increased to 7,000 men, to make a combined 
attack on New York ; but he was unable to brmg it about. Wash-ing-ton then 
turned his attention to operations in Vir-gin-i-a, and persuaded Admiral De 
Gras-se and General De Ro-cham-beau to unite with him in an attack on Corn- 
wal-lis. The plan was to block the Ches-a-peake with the fleet, and at the same 
time invest York-town with the army. Wash-ing-ton, who was in the neigh- 
borhood of New York, moved with so much caution, and so completely 
deceived Clin-ton as to his intentions, that, before the Bri-tish general under- 
stood his plans, the army was well on its way to Vir-gin-i-a. 

As soon as Clin-ton penetrated the designs of Wash-ing-ton, he saw 
that it was useless to attempt to overtake him. Hoping to draw the latter 
back for the defense of New Eng-land, he sent General Ar-nold, with a large 
body of troops, to attack New Lon-don. On the 6th of Sep-tem-ber it was 
captured, and the shipping, together with a large part of the town was burned. 
Fort Trum-bull had been evacuated on his approach. He then assaulted and 
took Fort Gris-wold, on the opposite of the Thames, and basely massacred the 
commander, Colonel Led-yard, and 60 of the garrison, after the surrender. 
Ar-nold's expedition failed in its great object. Wash-ing-ton kept on his 
march toward the south, and left New Eng-land to defend itself. The militia 
collected, and did this so well that Ar-nold became alarmed for his own safety, 
and made his way back to New York. 

On the 28th of Sep-tem-ber, the allied army, to the number of 16,000 
men, encamped before York-town, and the French fleet blocked up the Ches- 
a-peake. Works were soon thrown up, and on the 9th of Oc-to-ber the bom- 
bardment began. Two advanced redoubts of the Bri-tish were stormed and 
taken on the 14th. Additional batteries were erected by the allies, and the 
ramparts of the enemy rapidy crumbled beneath the destructive fire; his guns 
were dismounted; his ammunition failed him; and on the 15th he saw that 
the place could be held only a short time longer. 

On the night of the i6th he determined on the desperate alternative of 
attempting to cross over to Glou-ces-ter Point, and then, forcing his v*^ay 




yAMES A. GARFIELD. 



VICTORY AT LAST. 178 

through, to push for New York by rapid marches. His boats were actually 
collecting for crossing ; but a violent storm came on suddenly, scattering the 
boats, and compelling him to abandon his purpose. Nothing was left but to 
capitulate; and on the 19th Corn-wal-lis surrendered his entire army of nearly 
7,000 men prisoners of war. The ships and naval stores, together with 1,500 
seamen, were given to the French. 

On the 25th of No-vem-ber, the last of the Bri-tish troops in the U-nit-ed 
States evacuated the city of New York. General Wash-ing-ton immediately 
entered and took possession. On the 2d of No-vem-ber, Wash-ing-ton issued 
his farewell address to the army, and on De-cem-ber 4, took leave of his of^ccrs 
at New York. He then went to An-na-po-lis, and on De-cem-ber 23, under 
circumstances of great solemnity, resigned his commission to Con-gress, which 
was assembled there. He immediately retired to his estate at Mount Ver-non, 
on the bank of the Po-to-mac River, in Vir-gin-i-a, 





BENJAMIN HARRISON. 



CHAPTER XXII. 
FROM WASHINGTON TO LINCOLN. 

In May, 1787, delegates from all the states met in convention at Phil- 
a-del-phi-a and George Wash-ing-ton was chosen President. After several 
months of study and thought a Con-sti-tu-tion of the U-nit-ed States was 
drawn up and it was decided that it should go into effect on March 4, 1789, 
provided the thirteen original states agreed to it. In Sep-tem-ber, 1788, the 
Con-ti-nen-tal Con-gress, then assembled at New York, appointed the first 
Wed-nes-day of Jan-u-a-ry, 1789, for the choice of presidental electors by the 
people, and New York as the capital of the new government. George 
Wash-ing-ton was unanimously chosen President of the U-nit-ed States and 
John Ad-ams, of Mas-sa-chu-setts, as Vice-President. Wash-ing-ton ap- 
pointed Thom-as Jef-fer-son Sec-re-ta-ry of State, Al-ex-an-der Ham-il-ton 
Sec-re-ta-ry of the Treas-u-ry, and Gen-er-al Knox Sec-re-ta-ry of the War 
Department. John Jay was made Chief Jus-tice of the Su-preme Court, and 
Ed-mund Ran-dolph At-tor-ney Gen-er-al. 

In 1790 the seat of government was moved to Phil-a-del-phi-a. On the 
4th of March, 1793, Wash-ing-ton was re-elected Pres-i-dent and John Adams 
Vice-Pres-i-dent. He refused to serve a third term and in 1797, he was 
succeeded by John Ad-ams. In 1801 Thom-as Jef-fer-son became President and 
Aar-on Burr Vice-Pres-i-dent. In 1805 he was re-elected and George Clin-ton 
became Vice-Pres-i-dent. 

The year 1807 was made memorable by the invention of a steam-boat, 
by Rob-ert Ful-ton, which made a voyage from New York to Al-ba-ny, a dis- 
tance of about 150 miles, in 36 hours. In 1809 James Mad-i-son was elected 
Pres-i-dent. France and Eng-land were at war with each other at this time 
and both these nations thought they had the right to capture A-mer-i-can 
vessels. This resulted in a war between U-nit-ed States and Eng-land. 

The war opened on the northwestern frontier Ju-ly 1812 by the invas- 
ion of Can-a-da by the A-mer-i-can troops. This resulted in complete failure 

175 




FLIGHT OF NEGROES FROM FORT PILLOW. 



FROM WASHINGTON TO LINCOLN. 177 

and had it not been for the A-mer-i-can na-vy there is no knowing what would 
have happened. The last land battle of the war, was fought at New Or-leans 
and on the 14th of De-cem-ber, 1814, the treaty of Peace was signed at Ghent. 
Pres-i-dent Mad-i-son remained in office for two terms. In the year 1817, 
James Mon-roe beecame Pres-i-dent. During his administration two very 
important measures were adopted: one the Mis-sou-ri Com-pro-mise which 
prohibited slavery, north of a certain line; the other, the "Mon-roe Doc-trine," 
Pres-i-dent Mon-roe announed in a message shortly after the formation of the 
South A-mer-i-can Re-pub-lic, that the A-mer-i-can continents are not to be 
considered as subjects for future colonization by any Eu-ro-pe-an powers. At 
the close of Pres-i-dent Mon-roe's second term, La-fay-ette visited this country 
as the Na-tion's guest. 

The next Pres-i-dent of the U-nit-ed States was John Quin-cy Ad-ams, 
who was elected in 1825 and served one term. He was succeeded in 1829 by 
Gen-er-al An-drew Jack-son, who served two terms. Mar-tin \'an-Bu-ren was 
elected Pres-i-dent in 1837 and served until 1841, when Gen-er-al Wil-liam 
Hen-ry Har-ri-son was chosen his successor. Gen-er-al Har-ri-son died just 
one month after he had entered the White House and John Ty-ler. the Vice- 
Pres-i-dent became Pres-i-dent. In 1845 James K. Polk was chosen Pres-i- 
dent, as the candidate of the party that favored the admission of Tex-as to the 
Un-ion. In the year 1844 a most important event in the scientific world took 
place. This was the operation of the first electric telegraph line in the L'-nit-ed 
States, the invention of Sam-uel F. B. Morse. 

The most important occurrence in Pres-i-dent Polk's administration 
was the war with Mex-i-co over the northern boundary of Tex-as. (ien-er-al 
Tay-lor was ordered to Tex-as in Ju-ly. 1845, and soon after iiis arrival a 
severe battle took place on the Rio Grande and Con-gress at once declared 
war. After several engagements the city of Mon-te-rey was captured and the 
A-mer-i-can troops commenced their march into the interior of Mex-i-co, 
but General Tay-lor granted an armistice to the Mex-i-can governor and Con- 
gress offered terms of peace which were refused. Then Gen-er-al Win-field 
Scott was ordered to carry the war to the City of Mex-i-co. In the mean 
time Gen-er-al Tay-lor had defeated a large body of Mex-i-cans at Bu-e-na 
V'^is-ta. On the 9th of March, 1847, Gen-er-al Scott landed near Vera Cruz, 
and after a number of brilliant battles entered the City of Mex-i-co. On 

Feb-ru-a-ry 2, 1848, a treaty was made bv which the Rio Gran-de was con- 
12 



178 



FROM WASHINGTON TO LINCOLN. 



sidered the western boundary of Tex-as and the U-nit-ed States obtained New 
Mex-i-co and Cal-i-for-ni-a. 

In the election tliat followed Gen-er-al Zach-c-ry Tay-lor the hero 
of the Mex-i-can War was chosen Pres-i-dent, but died the following year when 
\'ice-Pres-i-dent Mil-lard Fil-more assumed the office. In 1853 Frank- 
lin Pearce was elected Pres-i-dent. When James Bu-chan-an was 
chosen in 1857. the coimtry was stirred up over the slavery cjuestion, and this 




ON THE CANAL. 

was increased by some of the northern states which passed laws giving- to 
tugitive slaves the right of trial. In 1859 John Brown, who was a firm believer 
in the freedom of the negroes, seized the U-nit-ed States arsenal at Har-per's 
Fer-ry, Vir-gin-i-a. hoping that the slaves would rise and follow him to the free 
states, l^rown w'as defeated, and afterward hung. The bitter feeling between 
the North and the South increased after this and naturally this was the subject 
uppermost in the minds of the people when the election took place in i860. 
The Republican party nominated A-l)ra-ham Lin-coln. of Il-li-nois, and the 



FROM WASHINGTON TO LINCOLN. 179 

South threatened to leave the Un-ion if he was elected. South Car-o-li-na was 
the first southern state to secede, followed by Mis-sis-sip-pi, Flor-i-da, Al-a- 
bam-a, Geor-gia, Louis-i-an-a and Tex-as, On the 4th of Jan-u-a-ry, 1861, 
delegates from these states met and formed a separate government called 
the Con-fed-er-ate States of A-mer-i-ca. Jef-fer-son Da-vis was chosen 
Pres-i-dent, then followed the firing on Fort Sum-ter and the War of the 
Re-bel-lion. 



mm 




A NEW ENGLAND JUMPER. 



CHAPTER XXIII. 
THE CIVIL WAR. 

The history of A-bra-ham Lin-cohi, furnishes a striking proof of the fact 
that, in the U-nit-cd States, poverty prevents no citizen from rising- to the 
highest position in the gift of the people. In the year 1818 his father moved 
from Ken-tuck-y into In-di-a-na, where, at the age of eight years, young 
Lin-cohi, axe in hand, assisted in clearing away the forest. His entire school 
education, until manhood, did not amount to more than one year. At the age 
of twenty-one he removed to 11-li-nois, where, while keeping a store, he 
studied law, borrowing each evening the law books, and returning them in the 
morning. He was chosen to the Legislature, became a lawyer, was sent as 
representative to Con-gress, and, in a canvass for the position of U-nit-ed 
States Sen-a-tor, was defeated by Judge Doug-las. It was this contest that 
brought him prominently before the country, and led the way to his nomination 
as President. 

When Lin-coln entered on his duties, March 4, 1861, Major An-der-son 
was still in possession of Fort Sum-ter. The Con-fed-er-ates heard that the 
U-nit-ed States government would re-enforce and provision the fort at all 
risks; they therefore determined to capture it before this could be done. On 
the morning of A-pril 12, they opened fire from the batteries, and the bom- 
bardment was continued for 34 hours. At the end of that time many of the 
guns in the fort were dismantled, and the handful of men composing the 
garrison was so utterly worn out, that An-der-son was compelled to surrender. 
No lives were lost on either side during the attack. 

The telegraph published throughout the country the news of the bom- 
bardment, and its result. In the South, and particularly in South Car-o-H-na, 
the people were > 'Id with joy. At the North the news was generally received 
with astonishmeii. and profound indignation. It was plain now that war had 
begun. There was no longer any doubt as to what the South meant, and 
75,000 volunteers for three months sprang to arms at the call of Pres-i-dent 

181 




BUILDING A LOG CABIN. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 183 

Lin-coln, April 14. The attack on Fort Sum-ter united the South as well as 
the North. States that had before hesitated soon joined the Con-fed-er-a-cy — 
Vir-gin-i-a on the 17th of A-pril; Ar-kan-sas, May 6; North Car-o-li-na, May 
20; and on the 20th of June, Ten-nes-sce, making the number of Con-fcd-er-ate 
States eleven, Mis-sou-ri and Ken-tuc-ky remained neutral. 

Vir-gin-i-a had scarcely passed the act of secession when 250 of her 
militia were sent to seize the U-nit-ed States Ar-se-nal at Har-per's Fer-ry. 
The officer in command, on their approach, A-pril 18, destroyed a portion of 
the muskets, set fire to the buildings, and retreated north into Penn-syl-va-ni-a. 
At the same time the Vir-gin-i-ans were planning to surprise the great navy 
yard at Nor-folk. Hearing this, the officer in command, without waiting to 
strike a blow for its defense, spiked the cannon, scuttled or burned the war- 
ships, and set fire to the buildings. Notwithstanding this destruction, A-pril 
20, the Con-fed-er-ates obtained nearly 2,000 cannon, besides a vast amount of 
stores; and they afterward raised some of the vessels that had been sunk. The 
U-nit-ed States property destroyed and captured here was valued at ten mil- 
lions of dollars. 

Wash-ing-ton was threatened by the Con-fed-er-ate troops, but help 
was approaching from the North. On the 17th of A-pril, only two days after 
the Pres-i-dent's proclamation, the Sixth Mas-sa-chu-setts Regiment left 
Bos-ton for the capital. On the 19th, while passing through the streets of Bal- 
ti-more, it was attacked by a secession mob, and three soldiers were killed and 
eight wounded. It made its way, however, to the capital, where it was soon 
joined by other regiments from the Northern States. For the present the 
capital was safe, and Pres-i-dent Lin-coln, May 3, made a call for 83,000 men 
for the army and navy, to serve during the war. The troops were speedily 
raised. 

The U-nit-ed States government held possession of Fortress Mon-roe, 
at the entrance to the Ches-a-peake. General B. F. But-ler, of Mas-sa-chu- 
setts, was stationed here in May, with a force increased presently to 12,000 
men. A detachment from General Ma-gru-der's army of 8,000 Con-fed-er-ates 
was encamped so near the fort that they became troublesome. In attempting 
to dislodge them at Big Beth-el, a party of the Un-ion troops was defeated 
June loth. 

A force, composed principally of O-hi-o and In-di-a-na men, was sent, 
under General M'Clel-lan, into Western Vir-gin-i-a. He pushed the Con- 







H 



THE CIVIL WAR. 185 

fed-er-ates so vigorously that they were beaten at Phil-ip-pi on June 3rd, and 
again at Rich Mountain on the nth of Ju-ly. A few days after at Car-rick's 
Ford, on Cheat River, General Gar-nett, the Con-fed-er-ate, made a stand, 
but was himself killed, and his troops were compelled to flee. In the latter of 
these battles M'Clel-lan was assisted by an able offtcer, Colonel Ro-se-crans. 
On Au-gust 10, Ro-se-crans, now made a general, assaulted General Floyd, 
the late Un-ion Secretary of War, now at the head of a Con-fed-er-ate force, 
at Car-ni-fex Fer-ry, on the Gau-ley River, and compelled him to retreat. At 
Cheat Mountain, the Con-fed-er-ates, under General E. Lee, were repulsed 
Sep-tem-ber 14th, and shortly the enemy retired from Western Vir-gin-i-a. 

The LIn-ion forces at Wash-ing-ton crossed the Po-to-mac and occu- 
pied Al-ex-an-dri-a, nine miles below Wash-ing-ton, May 23, General M'Dow- 
ell in command. The Con-fed-er-ate army, under General Beau-rc-gard, 
was encamped, toward the end of June, at Ma-nas-sas Junc-tion, 2^ miles from 
Al-ex-an-dri-a. As the Con-fed-er-ate government was about to assemble at 
Rich-mond, the new capital, on the 20th of Ju-ly, it was deemed necessary by 
the U-nit-cd States government to make a forward movement. M'Dow-ell 
accordingly advanced, and, on the 21st of Ju-ly, attacked Beau-re-'gard at Bull 
Run, a small stream in front of the enemy. The force on each side was be- 
tween 20,000 and 30,000. 

The fighting in the forenoon was favorable to the Un-ion-ists. As the 
day wore on, the enemy received rc-inforcements under General Jo-seph John- 
ston, and these turned the tide of battle. M'Dow-ell's troops were siezed with 
panic, and fled in great disorder, leaving behind them nearly 1,500 killed and 
wounded, and as many more prisoners. Beau-re-gard did not pursue; had he 
done so, he might have entered Wash-ing-ton, so great was the confusion. As 
this was the first important battle between the two armies, the defeat at first 
greatly depressed the spirits of the northern people. The disgrace was all the 
liarder to bear when it became known how the Con-fed-er-ates were re- 
enforced at so fortunate a moment. General Pat-ter-son, with 20,000 men, 
had been ordered to watch General Jo-seph E. John-ston, w'ho had just been 
forced to evacuate Har-per's Fer-ry, and prevent him from joining Beau-re- 
gard at Ma-nas-sas. Instead of this, he permitted John-ston to slip away from 
him to Bull Run. 

After the battle General M'Clel-lan was brought from Western Vir-gin- 
i-a to take command at Wash-ing-ton. Con-gress ordered a levy of 500,000 
men, and the spirit of the people was such that this force was soon raised. 




THE GUN AT WORK. 



THE CIVIL WAR. 187 

M'Clel-lan was busy organizing and drilling these recruits during the fall 
and winter. The only noticeable event in the Po-to-mac Army during the 
fall was the disaster at Ball's Bluff, on the Po-to-mac, near Lees-burg, Vir- 
gin-i-a, Oc-to-ber 21st. Colonel Ba-ker, U-nit-ed States Senator from Or-e 
gon, at the head of nearly 2,000 men, was sent by General Stone across the 
river at Edward's Ferry, to attack General Ev-ans at Lees-burg. Here he was 
overpowered, himself killed, and his troops driven to the river side, where a 
great number were drowned trying to cross to the Ma-ry-land side, sufficient 
boats not having been provided in view of disaster. The loss was very severe; 
only 1,100 out of 1,900 men returned. 

Although Mis-sou-ri had not joined the Con-fcd-er-ate States, the seces- 
sionists were making powerful efforts to carry her out of the Un-ion. A se- 
cession camp, named Camp Jac)c-son, was formed near St. Louis, in May, but 
was broken by the activity of Captain Py-on, a U-nit-ed States officer. By 
this prompt movement the arsenal at St. Louis was saved. Large bodies of 
Con-fed-er-ates poured into Southwest Mis-sou-ri, where there were important 
lead mines, very necessary to their armies. On the 17th of June, Ly-on, now 
general, defeated Governor Jack-son at Boone-ville. The governor was again 
beaten at Car-thage on the 5th of Ju-ly by Colonel Si-gel, after a severe 
engagement. 

On the loth of Au-gust a heavy battle was fought by General Ly-on 
at Wil-son's Creek, near Spring-field, with a superior force of Con-fed-er-ates 
under Generals M'Cul-lough and Price. Ly-on was killed, but the enemy were 
repulsed. After the battle the Un-ion troops fell back to Rol-la, near the center 
of the state. General Price, in command of 20,000 Cqn-fed-er-ates, pushed 
westward toward Lex-ing-ton, on the Mis-sou-ri River, held by General Mul- 
li-gan with 2,600 men. After a brave defense, Mul-li-gan surrendered to Price 
on the 2oth of Sep-tem-ber. 

General John C. Fre-mont, appointed to the command of the Western 
Army, now drove General Price before him south through the state. Fre-mont 
reached Spring-field in Oc-to-ber, and was preparing to attack the enemy, when 
he was removed from his command, No-vem-ber 2. General Hun-ter took 
his place; and the Un-ion Army, instead of fighting, fell back to St. Louis, 
General Price following. General Hal-leck superseded Hun-ter No-vem-ber 
18, and pushed Price south toward Ar-kan-sas, the latter leaving his prisoners 
and military stores on the way. 




hHI- KIDAN '^ lAiMOU.s KlDh 



THE CIVIL WAR. 189 

Kcn-tuc-ky, like Mis-sou-ri, had chosen lo remain neutral. The Con- 
fed-er-ate government ordered General Polk to take military possession of the 
state, without regard to the wishes of its people. J 'oik at once occupied and 
fortified Co-lum-bus, thus blockading the Mis-sis-sip-pi. Opposite this, at 
Hel-mont, Mis-sou-ri, was stationed a body of Con-fed-er-ate troops. On 
the 7tli of No-vem-ber, General U. S. Grant, having moved from Cai-ro, 
Il-li-nois, with 3,000 men, attacked the camp at P.el-mont, and at first drove 
the enemy with loss to the river. P>ut delay occurred; Polk turned 
the guns of Co-lum-bus on the Un-ion troops, and sent over rc-enforccmcnts. 
Grant was then compelled to retreat. 

Fort Pick-ens was situated on San-ta Ro-sa Ts-land, opposite Pen-sa- 
co-la Navy Yard. The latter was disgracefully surrendered to the Con-fed- 
er-ates when they were siezing forts and arsenals; but the fort was saved to the 
Un-ion by the courage and patriotism of a Un-ion officer, Lieutenant Slem- 
mer. Pie was succeeded in the command by Colonel I'rown, who arrived with 
re-enforcements. On a dark night, Oc-to-ber 9, the Con-fcd-er-ates came 
over in force from Pen-sa-co-la, and, after surprising and severely handling 
a New York regiment, were driven off. Throughout the war, Fort Pick-ens 
firmly held guard over the approaches to l'en-.sa-co-la. 

In 1861, the North suffered serious reverses in the loss of Nor-folk, 
of Har-per's Fer-ry, in the battle of Pull Pun, and in the severe check at 
Ball's Pluff. Much, however, had been gained. Mis-sou-ri was saved to the 
Un-ion after hard fighting. Western Vir-gin-i-a had been preserved in the same 
way. The rapidly increasing navy had made the blockade effectual. The 
army, augmented by numerous levies to a million of men, was being drilled for 
future operations. The South was also active, and was straining every nerve 
in preparation for the struggle of the next year. 



CHAPTER XXIV. 
UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 

At the beginning of the year 1862 the war had assumed immense pro- 
portions. It was no longer to be carried on by one or two small armies acting 
without concert, l)ut through a wide, yet connected series of naval and military 
operations, some of them at points more than a thousand miles apart. The 
great objects to be accomplished by these fleets and armies were chiefly, in the 
West and extreme South, the opening of the Mis-sis-sip-pi River to the Union 
armies; in the East the capture of Rich-mond, now the Con-fed-er-ate capital; 
and the thorough blockade of the Southern coast. 

In the West, General Bu-ell was in command of an army, the head- 
quarters of which were at Louis-ville; General Hal-leck, with another army, 
lay further west, with his headquarters at St. Louis. In addition to these, a 
large fleet of river steamers and gun-boats, under Commodore Foote, was at 
Cai-ro, at the junction of the O-hi-o and Mis-sis-sip-pi, waiting to assist in the 
impending military movements in that quarter. There were also operations in 
progress against the extreme South. A combined naval and military expedi- 
tion, under Captain Far-ra-gut and General B. F. But-ler, was preparing to 
enter the Lower Mis-sis-sip-pi from its mouth and capture the city of New 
Or-leans. The expedition was thus to form a part in the great plan for the 
opening of that river 

In the East, General M'Clel-lan lay along the Po-to-mac with more 
than 150,000 men, getting ready to move against Rich-mond; and an expedi- 
tion, under General Burn-side and Commodore Golds-bor-ough, was already 
on its way to attack the forts on Ro-an-oke Is-land, on the coast of North 
Car-o-li-na. The plan of military operations for the year, although on a great 
scale, was very simple. By order of President Lin-coln, all the armies were 
required to move forward on the 22d of Feb-ru-a-ry, and crush the Con-fed- 
er-acy by their combined movements. Those in the West began a little in ad- 
vance of this time. 

191 




A RAILROAD BATTERY 



UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 1538 

On the 9th of Jan-u-a-ry, Colonel Gar-field, after a brilliant engage- 
ment, routed Hum-phrey Mar-shall, at the head of a Con-fed-er-ate force, 
on the Big San-dy River, in Eastern Ken-tuc-ky. On the 19th, General 
Thom-as, with severe fighting, defeated a^d drove the Con-fed-er-ates from 
Mill Spring, a strong place in the same state. This was in the department of 
General Bu-ell. 

In Western Ken-tuc-ky, in the department of General Hal-leck, the 
enemy had forts at Co-lum-bus on the Mis-sis-sip-pi, and at Bow-ling Green 
on the Big Bar-ren River. South of these, in West Ten-nes-see, there were 
Fort Hen-ry on the Ten-nes-see, and Fort Don-el-son on the Cum-ber-land. 
General Hal-leck determined to pierce this line by capturing Forts Hen-ry and 
Don-el-son, which he could easily reach by water, on account of the peculiar 
force of the Ten-nes-see and Cum-ber-land Rivers. If he proved successful in 
this, he clearly saw that Nash-ville, the capital of the state, would fall into his 
hands, and the Con-fed-er-ates would be forced to evacuate Bow-ling Green 
and Co-lum-bus. The first point of attack was Fort Hen-ry. 

Commodore Foote, with his gun-boats, was sent up the Ten-nes-see, 
and General Grant, with the troops, was ordered to proceed by land. Before 
the latter could get his men near enough to surround the works, the com- 
mander of the fort surrendered to Commodore Foote, after a heavy bombard- 
ment by the gun-boats, Feb-ru-a-ry 6. Nearly all the garrison, to the number 
of three thousand, escaped to Fort Don-el-son. Although the latter was only 
twelve miles across the country to Fort Hen-ry, it was six days before Gen- 
eral Grant could march his army to that post. Of this delay the enemy made 
good use in re-enforcing the garrison and strengthening their works. Grant 
was compelled to wait the movements of the gun-boats, which had to steam 
down the Ten-nes-see, then up the Cum-ber-land, stopping on the way at 
Cai-ro for supplies and re-enforcements for the army. The gun-boats did not 
reach the neighborhood of Fort Don-el-son until the 14th. 

It was a much stronger place than Fort Hen-ry, and had a garrison of 
fourteen or fifteen thousand men. In the attack on the 14th the gun-boats 
were severely injured and driven back by the Con-fed-er-ate batteries, Com- 
modore Foote being seriously wounded. Grant's army, increased to the num- 
ber of 30,000, had, in the meantime, gradually surrounded the fort. Through 
his lines the Con-fed-er-ates attempted to cut their way on the 15th; but 
after a bloody battle they were repulsed, and a portion of their intrenchments 
13 



iiliii!l|l;i|illl 







87 



UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 195 

captured by the Un-ion troops. Gen-er-al Buck-ner attempted to parley but 
the Un-ion leader demanded unconditional surrender and on the following 
day Fort Don-el-son capitulated. This was by far the most brilliant victory 
yet gained by the Un-ion arms. 

The line of Con-fed-er-ate defense through Ten-nes-see and Ken-tuc-ky 
was now shattered. Bow-ling Green was evacuated, and shortly after Co-lum- 
bus. The way was now open to Nash-ville, which was immediately occupied 
by the Un-ion troops. The national army, re-enforced, moved up the Ten-nes- 
see as far as Pitts-burg Land-ing, where Grant again took command, and 
General Bu-ell marched from Nash-ville to join him there. 

On Sun-day morning, A-pril the 6th, before the arrival of Bu-ell, the 
Con-fed-er-ate army, under General A. S. John-ston, Beau-re-gard being 
second in command, suddenly fell on Grant's troops, encamped at Shi-loh 
Church, near Pitts-burg Land-ing, with the river in their rear. During a day's 
dreadful slaughter, in which John-ston was killed, the Un-ion troops were 
driven back step by step to a small plateau near the edge of the Ten-nes-see, 
protected by the fire of the gun-boats. The Un-ion army was saved that day 
by the extraordinary efforts of Brigadier General W. T. Sher-man, who com- 
manded a division. During the night Bu-ell's troops arrived, and, on the 
morning of A-pril 7th, Grant moved to the attack. Beau-re-gard was com- 
pelled to fall back, and he slowly retreated to Cor-inth, Mis-sis-sip-pi, some 
fifteen miles distant, commanding an important system of railroads. 

General Hal-leck, made commander of the different Un-ion armies in 
the West, brought them together, and, at the head of more than 100,000 men, 
moved against Cor-inth. Beau-re-gard, seeing that he was greatly outnum- 
bered, evacuated the place on the approach of Hal-leck, and on the 30th of 
May it was entered by the Un-ion troops. While Grant was fighting the 
battle of Shi-loh, events of great importance took place on the Mis-sis-sip-pi 
River. When the Con-fed-er-ates left Co-lum-bus they fortified Is-land No. 10, 
then miles below. The position was so strong by nature, and they had so 
strengthened it by art, that they thought it could not be taken. But all these 
preparations could not stop General Pope with his Western men, nor Com- 
modore Foote and his gun-boats. After a bombardment of twenty-three days, 
it was captured on the 7th of A-pril, with 5,000 prisoners, the same morning 
that Grant repulsed Beau-re-gard at Shi-loh. 

Fort Pil-low was the next strong point on the river, but before it 
could be invested Pope's army was withdrawn to join Hal-leck in his move- 



UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 197 

ment against Cor-intli. Commodore Foote, disabled by the wound he had re- 
ceived at Fort Don-el-son, was succeeded by Captain Da-vis, who, after a 
severe battle, destroyed a part of the Con-fed-er-ate iron-clads near Fort 
Pil-low, May lo. The Fort itself was abandoned on June 4, in consequence of 
the evacuation of Cor-inth by Beau-re-gard. On the 6th of June Da-vis pushed 
down to Mem-phis, where he destroyed the Con-fed-er-ate fleet, and that city 
was immediately surrendered. The Un-ion troops now held a line from Mem- 
phis, on the Mis-sis-sip-pi, through Cor-inth, nearly to Chat-ta-noo-ga. All of 
Western Ken-tuc-ky and West Ten-nes-see were under their control. 

The Coh-fed-er-ates still held East Ten-nes-see, and determined to 
make one powerful efTort to restore their power in Ken-tuc-ky. An army in 
two divisions, under Bragg and Kir-by Smith, was sent there to make the 
attempt. Bragg, leaving Chat-ta-noo-ga, was to march northwestward, and 
Smith, starting from Knox-ville, was to join him in the center of the state. 
Smith moved in the month of Au-gust, and, after defeating the Un-ion troops 
at Rich-mond, Ken-tuc-ky, Au-gust 30, entered Lex-ing-ton and Frank-fort. 
He then moved toward the O-hi-o, threatening Cin-cin-na-ti; but the active 
measures taken there by General Lew-is Wal-lace compelled him to fall back, 
and he joined Bragg at Frank-fort Oc-to-ber 4. 

Bragg's objective point was Louis-ville. On his march he captured, 
after two slight engagements, 4,500 Un-ion troops at Mum-fords-ville, Sep- 
tem-ber 17. General Bu-ell, who lay at Nash-ville, on discovering Bragg's 
purpose, moved by forced marches to the relief of Louis-ville, and reached it 
only one day before the Con-fed-er-ates. Here he was shortly re-enforced to 
the number of 100,000 men. Bragg then fell back, ravaging the country, 
followed very slowly by Bu-ell, who came up with him at Per-ry-ville Oc-to- 
ber 8. Here a battle was fought, which, after severe loss on both sides, ended 
doubtfully. Bragg continued his retreat so leisurely that he was able to take 
out of Ken-tuc-ky a wagon train of plunder forty miles in length. 

While Bragg was in Ken-tuc-ky, a Con-fed-er-ate army, under Gen- 
erals Price and Van Dorn, threatened Grant at Cor-inth. General Hal-leck 
had been called to Wash-ing-ton to act as general-in-chief, and Grant was 
appointed to the command of the army of the Ten-nes-see. The latter, joined 
by General Ro-se-crans, moved against Price, and defeated him at I-u-ka, 
Sep-tem-ber 19. Grant then proceeded northward to Jack-son, Ten-nes-see, 
leaving General Ro-se-crans to defend Cor-inth with 30,000 men. 




A NAVAL ENGAGEMENT DURING THE WAR OF i8ia. 



UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER. 199 

Here the latter was attacked on the 4th of Oc-to-ber by Generals Van 
Dorn and Price, at the head of 40,000 Con-fed-er-ates. After a bloody battle 
they were driven back, with a loss of over 6,000 in killed and wounded, and 
were afterward pursued for 40 miles. The Un-ion loss was only 315 killed. 
For this brilliant victory Ro-se-crans was promoted to the command of the 
Army of the Cum-ber-Iand in place of General Bu-ell. 

Ro-se-crans soon gathered the bulk of his army round Nash-ville, and 
marched to attack the Con-fed-er-ate army under Bragg, which lay at Mur- 
frees-bor-o', 30 miles distant. At Stone River, near that place, he himself was 
attacked and driven back, De-cem-ber 31. On the 2d of Jan-u-a-ry the battle 
was renewed, and Bragg in turn was repulsed, but retreated in good order. 
This was one of the bloodiest battles of the war. The loss on each side was 
estimated at from 10,000 to 12,000. 

Grant meanwhile arranged an expedition against Vicks-burg, a strongly 
fortified position on the Mis-sis-sip-pi, 400 miles above New Or-leans. Gen- 
eral Sher-man was to move down the river from Mem-phis with 40,000 men, 
and the gun-boats under Por-ter; while Grant pushed forward by land from 
Jack-son. At first the combined movements promised complete success; but, 
unfortunately. Van Dorn was able to get into the rear of Grant, cutting ofT 
his supplies at Hol-ly Springs, De-cem-ber 20, and the latter was compelled 
to abandon his purpose. Sher-man, unaware of what had happened to Grant, 
started from Mem-phis on the day of this misfortune. Assisted by the gun- 
boats, he landed on the Ya-zoo River, and attacked the works on the blufif 
north of Vicks-burg, but was repulsed with considerable loss. This battle of 
Chick-a-saw Ba-you, De-cem-ber 29, ended active operations in the Depart- 
ment of Mis-sis-sip-pi for the year 1862. 

In the spring an important battle was fought in the department of 
General Hal-leck, on the northwest edge of Ar-kan-sas, at Pea Ridge, among 
the mountains. General Cur-tis pushed Price and M'Cul-loch out of Mis- 
sou-ri in the early part of the year. General Van Dorn at the head of 20,000 
fresh men, on the 7th of March attacked Cur-tis, who, with not more than 
11,000, had taken post on the heights around Su-gar Creek. The battle lasted 
two days, and ended in the repulse of Van Dorn. Cur-tis was greatly in- 
debted to the skill and gallantry of General Si-gel for the victory of Pea Ridge. 




SCENE OX THE ST. LAWRENCE Rn^ElL 



CHAPTER XXV. 
THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 

In the expedition against New Or-leans, Captain Far-ra-gnt was 
chosen to command the powerfnl fleet of 45 vessels, inchiding: mortar-boats, 
and General Bnt-ler the land troops, amonnting- to 15.000. By the beginning 
ot March, the entire expedition was assembled at Ship Is-land, near the mouth 
of the Mis-sis-sip-pi. about 30 miles from the Gulf, and 70 miles below New 
(.">r-leans. The river channel was guarded by strong forts, St. Phil-ip and Jack- 
son, and by a chain which, resting on hulks, stretched across the river. During 
a terrible bombardment of six days, from tlie i8th to the J4th of A-pril. l-\ir-ra- 
gut came to the conclusion that the fire of the mortar-boats could not reduce 
the forts, and he determined to run past them. 

On the 20th of A-pril the chain and barricades were, with great bravery, 
cut through, so as to permit a free passage for his ships. At three o'clock on 
the morning of the 24th he sailed up the river in the darkness, at the head of 
17 vessels, carrying 294 guns. A dreadful battle ensued, but Far-ra-gut slowly 
passed Fort Jack-son. and immediately attacked the Con-fed-er-ate fleet of 
ID armed steamers, the steam battery Louis-i-an-a. and the iron-plated ram 
Ma-nas-sas. When the morning sun had risen through the fog. Fort St. 
Phil-ip had been passed, and the greater part of the Con-fed-er-ate fleet, in- 
cluding the Louis-i-an-a and the Ma-nas-sas. had either been destroyed or cap- 
tured. 

Next day. the 25tli. Far-ra-gut appeared in front of New Or-leans. 
which lay helpless under his guns. On the 28th. Forts St. Phil-ip and Jack-son 
surrendered to Captain Por-ter. who remained ilown the river in conunand of 
the mortar fleet. On the ist of May. General But-ler entered the city, and took 
possession of it with his troops. A part of Far-ra-gut's fleet was sent up the 
river, and occupied Ba-ton Rouge, the capital of the state. The expedition of 
Far-ra-gut and But-ler proved a complete success. The Lower Mis-sis-sip-pi 
was opened, New Or-leans wrested from the Con-fed-er-ates, and their iron- 

201 







GROVER CLEVELAND. 



THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 203 

clad fleet completely destroyed. Far-ra-gut pushed up the river, and, passing 
the batteries at Vicks-burg without much injury, met the fleet of Da-vis at 
Mem-phis. 

Two long inland seas, called Al-be-marle and Pam-li-co Sounds, stretch 
from the coast far into the State of North Car-o-li-na. The object of General 
Burn-side's expedition was to obtain the control of these seas by the capture 
of Ro-an-oke Is-land, which commanded the entrance to Al-be-marle Sound, 
and was the key to all the rear defenses of Nor-folk. In addition, the cities and 
towns on the main land were to be occupied, and the Con-fed-er-ate vessels 
and iron clads building in these waters to be destroyed. 

On the nth of Jan-u-a-ry, 1862, the expedition left Hamp-ton Roads, 
and, after encountering a severe storm, passed through Hat-ter-as In-let on 
the 28th. The fleet came to anchor off Ro-an-oke Is-land on the 6th of Feb- 
ru-a-ry, and on the 8th the army, assisted by the guns of the fleet, attacked 
and captured the fort, with 2,500 prisoners. Two days after, the Con-fed-er- 
ate fleet in the Sound was all either destroyed or captured. On the 14th of 
March, New-bern, with 46 heavy guns and military stores fell into the hands of 
Burn-side after a severely fought battle. The final and complete success of the 
expedition was reached on the 25th of A-pril in the capture of Fort Ma-con, 
which defended the harbor of Beau-fort, in North Car-o-li-na. 

The withdrawal of troops from Flor-i-da for service in the Con-fed-er- 
ate army permitted a Un-ion expedition from Port Roy-al, Feb-ru-a-ry 28, to 
obtain easy possession of Fer-nan-di-na and Fort Clinch; of Jack-son-ville, on 
the St. John's River; of St. Au-gus-tine, with Fort Ma-ri-on; and in Geor-gia 
of the important town of Bruns-wick, and also Da-ri-en, at the mouth of the 
Al-ta-ma-ha. These were all captured in the month of March. 

When Nor-folk was surrendered to the Vir-gin-i-ans in 1861, the steam 
frigate Mer-ri-mac was scuttled and sunk. The Con-fed-er-ates afterward 
raised her, lowered her deck, covered it with a slate roof which they plated 
with railroad iron, fitted her with a long iron prow to act as a ram, and named 
her the Vir-gin-i-a. A fleet of Un-ion war-ships and smaller vessels lay ofi 
Fortress Mon-roe, in Hamp-ton Roads, on the 8th of March, 1862. At noon 
the Vir-gin-i-a, accompanied by two smaller vessels, steamed down to attack 
the fleet, and, utterly regardless of the shot and shell that rained harmlessly 
on her sides, struck the sloop of war Cum-ber-land with her iron prow so 
dreadful a blow that she sank in a few minutes. The captain of the frigate 



204 



THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC 



Con-gress. fearful of the same fate, ran his vessel ashore, and was compelled 
to surrender. At sunset the ram steamed back to Nor-lolk, having destroyed 
two frigates and 250 officers and men. with a loss to herself of only two killed 
and eight wounded. 

During the night, the Mon-i-tor. an iron-plated vessel of a new con- 
struction, invented by Captain John E-rics-son. and commanded by Lieutenant 
Wor-den. arrived from the North at Fortress Mon-roe. Soon after sunrise 




"LIEUTENANT CUSHING'S ATTACK OX THE ALBEMARLE.' 



next morning. March 9. it met and attacked the Vir-gin-i-a after she came out 
fiom the E-liz-a-beth River. .Although one-tifth of her antagonist's size, she 
compelled the \'ir-gin-i-a. after an engagement of several hours, to return 
disabled to Nor-folk. The latter did not again appear in the harbor. Never 
had any arrival proved more fortunate. The little iron-clad Mon-i-tor had saved 
the rest of the fleet. The battle opened a new era in naval warfare, and was the 
first contest in the world betwen iron-clad ships, 



THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 205 

An expedition against Fort ru-Ias-ki. one of the chief defenses of the 
city of Sa-van-nah. resuhed in the surrender of the fort, A-pril ii. to General 
Hun-ter. after a severe bombardment of 15 hours. By the fall of Pu-las-ki, 
Sa-van-nah was thoroughly closed against a class of ships known as An-£^lo- 
Con-fed-er-ate blockade-mnners. The city itself was not captured until De- 
cem-ber, 1S04. 

General Banks, in command of the Un-ion troops in the Shen-an-do-ah 
\'al-ley. in accordance with the general forward movement ordered by the 
President, had advanced as far south as Har-ri-son-burg^ toward the end of 
March. There-npon that vigorous Con-fed-er-ate general, popularly known 
as "Stone-wall Jack-son." from the saying at Bull Run that his brigade "would 
stand like a stone wall."' was sent into the \'alley with a heavv force, and 
Banks fell back 50 miles to Stras-burg. 

Tack-son. moving rapidly, attacked a body of Un-ion troops at Front 
Roy-al. May 2^, capturing a large number of prisoners, gims, and military 
stores General Banks, hearing of this disaster to a portion of his command, 
retreated rapidly from Stras-burg pursued by Jack-son. and. bv tremendous 
exertions, was able to cross the Po-to-mac in advance of the latter, and thus 
save the bulk of his exhausted troops. In the entire pursuit Jack-son cap- 
tured several guns. 9.000 small arms, and between 2,000 and 3.000 prisoners. 

Generals .Shields and Fre-mont were ordered into the \'allov to inter- 
cept Jack-son. The latter, learning this, moved south with the greatest 
celerity, but was brought to bay at Cross Keys, June 8, where a battle was 
fought which checked Fre-mont's advance. Next day Jack-son struck Shield's 
division at Port Re-pub-lic. and compelled it to fall back with considerable 
less. Here the pursuit ended, and Jack-son moved leisurely to join Lee's army 
iti the battles for the defense of Rich-mond. He had performed a great 
service. With only 20,000 men, he had, by the rapidity of his movements, 
thoroughly alarmed the U-nit-ed States government for the safety of Wash- 
ing-ton, and had succeeded in occupying the attention of more than 60,000 
Un-ion troops. 40.000 of which, under the command of M'Dowell, were about 
to join M'Clel-lan in the Pen-in-su-la. 

The great army of nearly 200.000 men. under General M'Clellan which 
lay along the Po-to-mac during the winter of 1861-62, began to move forward 
toward Ma-nas-sas on the loth of March, the enemy retiring as it advanced. 
The Un-ion army presently returned to its camp near Wash-ing-ton, and it 




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THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. tOl 

was determined in a council of war to move the bulk of the troops, amounting 
to 121,000 m.en, to Fort-ress Mon-roe, which was accomplished Ap-ril 2. 

From this point, A-pril 4, M'Clellan commenced his march against the 
Con-fed-er-ate capital. York-town and its neighborhood, fortified and garri- 
soned by 10,000 Con-fed-er-ates under Ma-gru-der, lay in his way. M'Clel-lan, 
deeming the Con-fed-er-ate works too strong to be taken by an immediate 
assault, concluded to invest them. This occupied nearly a month, at the end of 
which Ma-gru-der evacuated the place, which was entered by M'Clel-lan 
May 4. 

His troops followed the enemy, and gained the battle of Wil-liams-burg 
May 5, and that of West Point May 9. In less than three weeks from the time 
he left York-town his advance was within seven miles of Rich-mond. There 
was a great panic in the city; many persons left, and the Con-fed-er-ate Con- 
gress adjourned in haste. M'Clel-lan, however, did not advance, but em- 
ployed the army in the swamps of the Chick-a-hom-i-ny, building bridges and 
constructing earth-works. Flis lines extendefl from Bot-tom's Bridge on the 
Chick-a-hom-i-ny, to Me-chan-ics-ville on the north. The base of his sup- 
f)lies was at White House, on the Pa-mun-key River. 

Nor-folk, threatened by a division of the Un-ion army, under General 
Wool, from Fortress Mon-roe, was abandoned by the enemy May 3, who were 
concentrating their troops for the defense of Rich-mond, and entered by the 
Un-ion-ists May 10. Before leaving Nor-folk, the enemy destroyed the stores 
and burned the navy yard. On the nth of May they blew up the famous ram 
Vir-gin-i-a, which it had been hoped would defend James River. This was 
now open to within eight miles of Rich-mond, and the gun-boats with the 
little Mon-i-tor, went up on the 15th to force a passage, but were stopped by the 
heavy guns of Fort Darl-ing, and driven back badly injured. 

On the 31st of May, the Con-fed-er-ate troops, which had time to col- 
lect in great numbers around Rich-mond attacked the south wing of the 
Un-ion army, which had advanced to Seven Pines and Fair Odks, south of the 
Chick-a-hom-i-ny. The battle continued next day, June' i, and the enemy 
were finally repulsed after a severe battle, their general, Joseph E. John-ston, 
being seriously wounded. The Un-ion army now lay within six miles of the 
city of Rich-mond, and a portion of General Hook-er's command ,\yent within 
three and a half miles of it. 

General Rob-ert E. Lee was appointed to the command of the Con- 
fed-er-ate army after John-ston was disabled at Fair Oaks. While M'Clel-lan 



THE MONITOR AND IHE MERRIMAC. -^09 

was on the point of marching on the defenses of Rich-niond, Lee. on the 25th 
of June, fell suddenly on the Un-ion right, and at IMe-chan-ics-ville next day, 
t!ie 26th, was repulsed with severe loss. On the following day, the 27th, the 
Un-ion troops, who had fallen back, were attacked with great fury at Cold 
Har-bor. or Gaines's Mill. With difliculty the army saved itself bv crossing 
to the south side of the Chick-a-hom-i-ny, and destroying the bridges. 

Already M'Clel-lan. finding himself in danger of being cut ofif from his 
base of supplies at White House, had determined on a change of base to the 
James River; and the retreat began June 28, the wearied troops marching 
during the greater part of the night, and fighting all day. On the 29th, the rear 
of the retreating army was attacked at Sav-agc's Sta-tion. On the 30th was 
fought the bloody but indecisive battle of Fra-zier's Farnr. 

Next morning, July ist, the Un-ion troops reached Mal-vern Hill, near 
the James. This had been hastily fortified with heavy guns, and was sup- 
ported by gun-boats in the river. Late in the afternoon Lee hurled his troops 
against the L^n-ion batteries, but was driven back with dreadful slaughtet 
The battle had scarcely closed when the Un-ion army was ordered to fal\ 
back to Har-ri-son's Land-ing, farther down the river. The contest, generally 
known as the "seven days' battles," had ended. From Me-chan-ics-ville to 
Mal-vern Hill, M'Clel-lan had lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, more 
than 15,000 men; the Con-fed-er-ate loss was nearly 20,000. Rich-mond was 
saved, and the object for which the Army of the Po-to-mac had been so long 
and so splendidly trained was entirely lost. The discouragement at the North, 
after this retreat, was nearly as great as after the battle of Bull Run. President 
Lin-coln, on the very day of Mal-vern Hill, called for a fresh levy of 300,000 
troops. 

Lee had no longer anything to fear from M'Clel-lan's crippled army. 
Aher waiting a month, in whicli he recruited and reorganized his troops, he 
marched north in the direction of VVash-ing-ton. In his way there was an 
army of 40.000 men, under the command of General Pope, who had been sent 
lor from the West, and had united the various commands of Banks. Fre-mont. 
:ind M'Dow-ell. T,ee pressed on rapidly, and his advanced corps attacked a 
portion of Pope's army, under General Banks, at Ce-dar Moun-tain. Au-gust 
i)th. and. after a severe struggle, the latter was' defeated. 

Pope fell back, contesting every mile of the way. and expecting help 

from M'Clel-lan's army, which had been ordered to join him; but re-enforre- 

mcnts came up slowly. At Ma-nas-sas lunc-tion. Au-gust 26th, the Con- 
i4 




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THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 211 

fed-er-ates captured 8 guns, lo locomotives, 7 trains, and immense quantities of 
stores. On the 28th Pope turned upon the enemy and drove them from 
Cen-tre-ville. Next day, the 29th, he attacked them successfully at Gaines- 
ville, but on the following morning the battle was renewed, and Pope was 
compelled to fall back to Cen-tre-ville. On Au-gust 31st, he was attacked at 
Chan-til-ly, where, after a bloody battle, the enemy was repulsed. 

Overpowered by superior numbers, he withdrew his wearied troops 
within the defenses of Wash-ing-ton. He had lost, in the campaign, not less 
than 30,000 men, and a large number of cannon and small arms, besides mu- 
nitions and supplies. Pope was now relieved from the command at his ov.'n 
request, and M'Clel-lan was placed at the head of the Union army, which had 
been, meanwhile, heavily re-enforced. 

Lee turned into Ma-ry-land, hoping that he would find volunteers and 
support there. In this he was greatly disappointed. He divided his army, and 
sent a large part of it, under Jack-son, to capture Har-per's Fer-ry, which 
was held by Colonel Miles and 13,000 raw troops, principally militia. Miles 
made a disgraceful surrender, after scarce any show of resistance, Sep-tem- 
ber 15th. 

Jack-son's expedition well-nigh proved the ruin of Lee. M'Clel-lan 
took the field Sep-tem-ber 7th, and pushed in between the two divisions of- 
Lee's army at Tur-ner's Gap. There he fought and gained the battle of South 
Moun-tain, Sep-tem-ber 14th. Lee, being in a perilous situation, retreated 
next day toward the Po-to-mac, and took a position at Sharps-burg, with the 
An-tie-tam River in front. 

M'Clel-lan delayed his attack until the 17th, and by that time Jack-son 
had come up rapidly from Har-per's Fer-ry. On the 17th the battle of Sharps- 
burg, or An-tie-tam, was fought between 70,000 men under Lee, and 80,000 
under M'Clel-lan. At the close of the battle the position of the two armies 
was nearly the same as at the beginning; yet the Con-fed-er-ates had lost 
10.000 in killed and wounded, the Un-ion troops about 11,500. M'Clel-lan did 
not renew the attack next day. On the night of the i8th Lee quietly crossed 
the Po-to-mac, and continued his march slowly through Vir-gin-i-a without 
interruption. The Un-ion army did not reach the south side of the Po-to-mac 
until the 2d of No-vem-ber, more than six weeks after the battle. 

President Lin-coln and a great part of the North had become dis- 
satisfied with General M'Clel-lan, and on the 7th of No-vem-ber General 



;i2 



1B> 



THE MONITOR AND THE MERRIMAC. 



Burn-side was appointed to the command. He moved the army toward the 
Rap-pa-han-nock, intending to proceed against Rich-mond, Fred-er-icks- 
burg was chosen as the place of crossing. Lee had placed his men behind 
strong earth-works and a stone wall on the other side, some distance from the 
river. On the nth and I2th of De-cem-ber Burn-side crossed, and on the 13th 
attacked the Con-fed-er-ate works. At the close of that short winter's day he 




RUTHERFORD B. HAYES. 



found himself repulsed, with the terrible loss of nearly 11,000 in killed and 
wounded. Of these there were left 6,500 in front of the stone wall alone. The 
Army of the Po-to-mac was nearly demoralized by this dreadful defeat. It had 
become greatly dissatisfied with its leader, and the year closed in gloom on the 
trials of these brave but devoted troops. 



CHAPTER XXVL 
SINKING THE ALABAMA. 

Before proceeding to trace the operations of the different armies during 
the year 1864, tlie efforts of the Con-fed-er-ates on the ocean, which were 
brought nearly to an end during this year, will first be noticed. The Con- 
fed-er-ate government determined, at the very beginning of the war, to strike 
where the U-nit-ed States were open to attack, by either destroying A-mer- 
i-can merchant ships with armed vessels, or by driving them from the ocean. 

The first step, as early as May, 1861, was the establishment of priva- 
teering. This had only moderate success, because the Con-fed-er-ates had no 
open ports into which the privateers could bring their prizes, and neutral 
powers would not permit the use of their ports for that purpose. The first 
privateer was the Sa-van-nah, fitted out at Charles-ton, carrying only one gun, 
and not much larger than an ordinary pilot boat. Her career was short; she 
was captured the same day after she ran the blockade by the U-nit-ed 
States brig Per-ry. 

In the beginning of May, the Con-fed-er-ate cruiser Sum-ter, com- 
manded by Captain Semmes, was prepared for sea at New Or-leans, and in 
ju-ly escaped to sea, and captured some A-mer-i-can vessels. She continued her 
cruise until Feb-ru-a-ry, 1862, seizing and burning merchant ships, and was 
then blockaded by the Tus-ca-ro-ra at Ca-diz, where she was sold by Semmes, 
and the crew discharged. The Nash-ville, another of these early Con-fed-er-ate 
cruisers, succeeded in escaping from Charles-ton to Eng-land in Oc-to-ber, 
1861, and returned to the U-nit-ed States in 1862, running the blockade, and 
bringing with her $3,000,000 worth of stores. One year afterward, March, 
1863, she was destroyed by the iron-clads, near Fort M'Al-lis-ter, on the Sa- 
van-nah River. 

The Con-fed-er-ates now turned to Bri-tish ship-yards for the supply of 
armed cruisers. The Flor-i-da, originally named the O-re-to, built near Li- 
ver-pool, sailed into Mo-bile Bay under Bri-tish colors, Au-gust, 1862. In 

213 



214 SINKING THE ALABAMA. 

Jan-u-a-ry, 1863, she ran the blockade, and, after destroying in three months 
fifteen vessels, was finally seized in the harbor of Ba-hi-a. Bra-zil, and brought 
to Hamp-ton Roads. Here she sank in an accidental collision with another 
vessel. The Geor-gia, built at Glas-gow, Scot-land, after a short cruise, was 
captured in 1863. The Chick-a-mau-ga burnt ships to the value of half a 
million of dollars. The Tal-la-has-see destroyed in ten days thirty-three ves- 
sels; and the O-lus-tee was also busy in the same work. 

The most active and notorious of all the An-glo-Con-fed-er-ate cruisers 
was the Al-a-ba-ma. built at Li-ver-pool, and allowed to escape to sea against 
the earnest remonstrance of the A-mer-i-can minister in Eng-land. She was 
commanded by Captain Semmes, formerly of the Sum-ter; but her crew was 
Bri-tish, her guns were Bri-tish, and under the Bri-tish flag she approached 
unsuspecting merchant vessels, and captured or destroyed them. After a long 
career, during which she never entered a Con-fed-er-ate port, she sailed into 
the harbor of Cher-bourg, France, where she was blockaded by the U-nit-ed 
States war steamer Kear-sarge, Captain Wins-low. 

Ordered by the French government to leave the harbor the Al-a-ba-ma 
was attacked, June 19, 1864, ^y the Kear-sarge. five miles from shore, and sunk. 
after an engagement of one hour and a quarter. Her commander, Semmes, 
was rescued from the water by an Eng-lish yacht that hovered near during the 
battle. The Al-a-ba-ma captured 65 merchant vessels, and destroyed property 
worth ten millions of dollars. Her cruise rises to great importance, as forming 
the ground of a claim by the U-nit-ed States against Eng-land for damages 
to A-mer-i-can commerce — a claim still unsettled in 1870, and which has 
already threatened serious difficulty between the two nations. 

The Un-ion government, with immense armies and undiminished re- 
sources, proceeded steadily in its work of crushing out the Con-fed-er-a-cy. 
The plan of operations for the year 1864, in the spring, resolved itself into the 
two simultaneous movements — one of Sherman eastward into Geor-gia with the 
armies of the West; the other of Grant, with the Po-to-mac army, toward 
Fich-mond — and the capture of the remaining sea-ports. A movement of sec- 
ondary importance was made in the beginning of the year from Port Roy-al, 
South Car-o-li-na, under General Sey-mour, to Flor-i-da. At O-lus-tee he 
received a disastrous defeat. Feb-ru-a-ry 20, and was compelled to return. 

General W. T. Sher-man left Mcks-burg Feb-ru-a-ry 3. with the inten- 
tion of destroying the railroads in northern Mis-sis-sip-pi, and thus breaking the 
communications of that state with the rest of the Con-fed-er-a-cy. His plans 



SINKING THE ALABAMA. 215 

were somewhat disarranged by General For-rest, who defeated a large cavalry 
force from Mem-phis intended to join Sher-man at Me-ri-di-an, Mis-sis-sip-pi. 
l^rom this point, the intersection of two great railroads, Sher-man returned 
to Vicks-burg, after destroying 150 miles of railroad, 67 bridges, 20 locomo- 
tives, 28 cars, thousands of bales of cotton, and 20,000 bushels of corn. 

The Con-fed-er-ate For-est advanced north into Ten-nes-see, laying 
waste the country, and captured Un-ion City, Ten-nes-see, March 24. Next 
day he appeared before Pa-du-cah, Ken-tuc-ky, but was repulsed, with the loss 
of 1,500 men. On the 12th of A-pril he attacked Fort Pil-low. The garrison, 
principally negro troops, made a brave resistance, but were forced to surrender. 
For-rest's raid accomplished nothing for the Con-fed-er-ate cause. 

In the beginning of March Grant was appointed lieutenant general 
and commander of all the armies of the Un-ion. He immediately removed his 
head-quarters to the Army of the Po-to-mac. At the same time Sher-man was 
appointed to the command of the Military Division of the Mis-sis-sip-pi, which 
embraced three great armies — that of the O-hi-o, the Cum-ber-land, and the 
Ten-nes-see. This was a change of great importance, because the operations 
in the East and West could now be made to assist each other.. The two large 
armies of the Con-fed-er-a-cy were under Lee and John-ston. That under Lee 
guarded Rich-mond; the other, under John-ston, covered At-lan-ta, in Geor gia. 
Grant's plan of campaigns for 1864 required that Sher-man should strike the 
army of John-ston, while, at the same time, he himself, with the army of the 
Po-to-mac, should crush Lee and capture Rich-mond. 

Sher-man commenced to perform his part by leaving Chat-ta-noo-ga, 
on the At-lan-ta campaign. May 7, with nearly 100,000 men. John-ston, at 
the head of the Con-fed-er-ate army, numbering 70,000, disputed his advance. 
Outflanked by Sher-man at Dal-ton, he fell back to Re-sa-ca, w^here a severe 
battle w'as fought May 14 and 15. John-ston again outflanked, made a 
stand at Dal-las, where he was defeated, and Al-la-too-na Pass turned. 
May 25-28. At Lost Moun-tain there was heavy fighting June 
■ 5, 16, 17 and at Kcn-e-saw Moun-tain June 22 to Ju-ly 3. By the loth of 
Ju-ly John-ston had fallen back within the fortifications of At-lan-ta. 

The Con-fed-er-ate government, dissatisfied w^ith John-ston's retreating 
policy, ordered General Hood to supersede him; and Hood attacked Sher-man 
three times during the month of Ju-ly, only to be defeated. The latter tightened 
his hold on At-lan-ta, and at last, by a masterly movement, got in between 



216 



SINKING THE ALABAMA. 



two parts of Hood's army. This compelled Hood to evacuate the city, and 
Sher-man's advanced corps entered it Sep-tem-ber 2. His campaign from 
Chat-ta-noo-ga had cost him 30,000 men. The Con-fed-er-ate loss probably 
exceeded this. At-lan-ta had been a place of great importance to the Con-fed- 




CHESTER A. ARTHUR. 



er-ates. Here was extensive manufactories of cannon and munitions of war, 
and it was at the crossing of several railroads. Sher-man rested here to re- 
cruit his army and to prepare for his famous march of 200 miles across Geor- 
gia to the sea. 



CHAPTER XXVII. 
THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 

While Hood was moving into Ten-nes-see, Sher-man cut his own rail- 
road and telegraphic communications with Chat-ta-noo-ga, burned At-lan-ta, 
and on the 14th of No-vem-ber commenced his march across Geor-gia to 
Sa-van-nah with 60,000 men. He met with little resistance, and in four weeks 
reached the neighborhood of Sa-van-nah. On the 13th of De-cem-ber he 
stormed and took Fort M'Al-lis-ter, which commanded the river. On the 
2 1st, five weeks from the time he left At-lan-ta, he entered the city, which had 
been evacuated by the enemy, and sent the news of its capture, as "a Christmas 
present," to President Lin-coln. 

Grant's part of the great forward movement began by crossing the 
Kap-i-dan River, with 140,000 men, on the morning of the 4th of May, Gen- 
eral Meade being in immediate command. This was only four days before 
Sher-man left Chat-ta-noo-ga. Grant, after crossing the river, entered a tract 
called the Wil-der-ness. Here Lee's army, numbering about 100,000, attacked 
him on the 5th, near the old battle-ground of Chan-cel-lors-ville. After three 
days' hard fighting, and terrible slaughter on both sides, Lee fell back to Spott- 
syl-va-ni-a Court-house, where the battle was renewed. It was on the morning 
of the nth that Grant, after six days' hard fighting, sent his famous dispatch to 
Wash-ing-ton, containing those now historic words, "I propose to fight it out 
on this line, if it takes all summer." 

The battle of the 12th of May was probably the most severe, the loss on 
each side being not less than 10,000. Finding that Lee could not be driven in 
front. Grant moved to the enemy's right flank, crossed the Pa-mun-key River at 
Han-o-ver Town, and attacked Lee, strongly fortified, at Cold Har-bor, on the 
ist of June, but was repulsed with a loss of 2,000 men. On the 3d, a second 
attack which lasted little more than half an hour, was made, in which Grant's 
loss was 7,000. The entire Un-ion loss in the Army of the Po-to-mac from the 
5th of May to the 13th of June was 54,551 men in killed, wounded, and 
missing. Lee's was about 32,000. 

217 



218 THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 

Before Grant reached Spott-syl-va-ni-a, he dispatched Sher-i-dan, May 
7, with 10,000 cavalry, to break the railroad connection between Rich-mond 
and the Shen-an-do-ah Val-ley and Lynch-burg. In this he met with con- 
siderable success, and went within a few miles of the Con-fed-er-ate capital. 
On the 25th of June he rejoined Grant. As a part also of Grant's movement, 
General But-ler moved in force from Fortress Mon-roe toward Rich-mond, 
and occupied City Point and Ber-mu-da Hun-dred on the James May 5. On 
the i6th he was attacked by the Con-fed-er-ates, and forced back between the 
James and Ap-po-mat-tox Rivers at Ber-mu-da Hun-dred, where his force was 
hemmed in, and rendered useless for an immediate advance on Rich-mond. 

A movement was also made up the Shen-an-doah, to assist operations 
on Lee's flank and rear. On the ist of May Si-gel moved up the Valley with 
10,000 men, and was routed at New-mar-ket on the 15th by Breck-in-ridge 
with considerable loss. Hun-ter succeeded Si-gel and defeated the enemy at 
Pied-mont June 5. He then approached the important point of Lynch-burg. 
Lee, becoming alarmed for his safety, sent a strong force to his relief, and 
Hun-ter retreated into Western Vir-gin-i-a. 

Grant began to move his army, re-enforced to 150,000 men, across the 
James on the 15th of June. On the i8th he assaulted Pe-ters-burg, which had 
been hastily fortified by a part of Lee's army. It was a place of great im- 
portance, because it was the center of several railroads connecting Rich-mond 
with the South. In four days Grant's losses in the assault were 9,000 men. 
With his repulse at Pe-ters-burg the siege of that place and of Rich-mond 
began. Grant's movements had thus far cost him 64,000 men. Lee had lost 
about 38,000. The struggle was now a simple question of the resources of the 
North against the exhausted energies of the South. 

An attempt was presently made to break Lee's lines by running a mine 
under one of the enemy's forts. On the morning of the 30th of July, four tons 
of powder were exploded in it, and over the chasm that was made the Fed-er-al 
soldiers charged. But the enemy turned their guns upon them, and drove 
them back with the loss of 5,000 men. On Au-gust 18, 19, 20, Grant seized 
and destroyed a part of the Wel-don Rail-road south of Pe-ters-burg. This 
contest of three days cost Grant 4,500 troops. There was more severe fighting, 
continuing as late as De-cem-ber; and throughout the winter the Un-ion army 
was occupied in extending their entrenchments, and endeavoring to break the 
enemy's communications. 



THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 219 

Mo-bile was one of the most strongly fortified cities in the Con-fed-er- 
a-cy. Two strong fortifications, Gaines and Mor-gan, besides a number of 
batteries, commanded the entrance to the bay. An expedition, consisting of a 
powerful fleet, under Admiral Far-ra-gut, and a land force commanded by 
General G. Gran-ger, was sent against Mo-bile in Ju-ly. 

Far-ra-gut attacked the forts on the 5th of Au-gust. To enable him to 
see and direct the operations of the fleet, he had himself lashed to the main-top 
of his own vessel, the Hart-ford. The fleet fought its way past the forts with 
the loss of only one iron-clad. When it got above them, the iron-plated ram 
Ten-nes-see attacked Far-ra-gut, but was disabled, and compelled to surrender 
after a short but desperate fight. The forts were soon after given up to 
General Gran-ger. Mo-bile, as a port, was now efifectually shut against 
blockade-running; but the city was not taken until next year. 

There remained north of the Gulf only one port of entrance open to the 
Con-fed-er-ates — Wil-ming-ton, North Car-o-li-na. This was commanded by 
Fort Fish-er, a work of extraordinary strength. Admiral Por-ter, with a fleet, 
and a land force of 8,000 men under General But-ler, were sent against it in 
De-cem-ber. On the 24th the bombardment was begun with the heaviest fleet 
that had been employed during the war. The troops landed above the fort 
after the bombardment, but General But-ler decided that it was too strong to 
be taken by assault. The expedition then returned to Fortress Mon-roe. 

Notwithstanding the unfortunate issue of the attempt against Fort 
Fish-er at the close of the previous vear. Admiral Por-ter remained firm in the 
conviction that it could be taken. Another expedition was accordingly sent 
against it in Jan-u-a-ry, 1865. Por-ter commanded the fleet, and General 
Ter-ry the land force. The troops landed near the fort on the 12th, and the 
fleet bombarded it with terrific power for the three following days. On the 
15th, Ter-ry, after a bloody struggle, took the works by assault. On the 22d of 
Feb-ru-a-ry Wil-ming-ton was occupied by the Un-ion troops. 

The plan of the campaign had now become very simple. The Con- 
fed-er-a-cy was in its last agony. Sher-man's course lay northward through 
North and South Car-o-li-na into Vir-gin-i-a, and Grant's business was the 
capture of Pe-ters-burg and Rich-mond. Both these movements were carried 
through at a very early period in the year. 

Sher-man allowed his army to rest a month in Sa-van-nah. Toward 
the end of Jan-u-a-ry he pushed through South Car-o-li-na to Co-lum-bi-a, the 



220 THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 

capital, and entered it Feb-ru-a-ry 17th. On his way he cut the railroad north 
of Charles-ton. Har-dee, the Con-fed-er-ate general at that place, afraid of 
being hemmed in, evacuated the city Feb-ru-a-ry 17th, and moved north to 
join General John-ston in North Car-o-li-na. From Co-lum-bi-a Sher-man 
pressed toward Fay-ette-ville, North Car-o-li-na, which he entered March 21st, 
where he was joined by Generals Scho-field and Ter-ry, who had come up from 
the coast with re-enforcements. General John-ston, with 40,000 men, lay at 
Ra-leigh, the capital of the state. 

All winter Grant's army was encamped in front of Pe-ters-burg, stretch- 
ing away around to the southwest. On the 27th of Feb-ru-a-ry Sher-i-dan was 
sent from Win-ches-ter, with a cavalry force 10,000 strong, up the Shen-an- 
do-ah Valley, to destroy Lee's communications by canal and railroad to the 
north and east of Rich-mond. Ear-ly was entrenched at Waynes-boro, where 
he was attacked by Sher-i-dan, and compelled to retreat, with the loss of 1,600 
prisoners. After an almost continued career of success, Sher-i-dan joined the 
army near Pe-ters-burg March 26th. 

Lee's situation began to grow desperate. He tried to break the Un-ion 
line at Fort Stead-man, but was repulsed with loss March 25. His only hope 
now was to be able to join John-ston's army in North Car-o-li-na, and prolong 
the contest. On the ist of A-pril, Sher-i-dan, with 30,000 men, attacked Lee's 
position at Five Forks, and gained it. Then followed Grant's attack along the 
whole front, and Lee's lii\es were pierced in several places. On the 3d of 
A-pril, Pe-ters-burg was entered by the Un-ion troops and Rich-mond a few 
hours afterward. Lee fled westward, but was so closely followed that he was 
compelled to surrender his army to Grant at Ap-po-mat-tox Court-house, 
A-pril 9. 

The joy that filled the hearts of the loyal people of the North at the news 
of Lee's surrender was turned to sorrow five days afterward. President Lin- 
coln was shot in the private box of the theater at Wash-ing-ton on the evening 
of A-pril 14, by J. Wilkes Booth. On the morning of the 15th the President 
died. Almost at the same time he was shot, another assassin broke into the 
sick-chamber of Mr. Se-ward, Secretary of State, and, after wounding him and 
his son severely, escaped. Booth, tracked into Ma-ry-land was captured in a 
tobacco-house near Port Roy-al, and killed by his pursuers. Four of his ac- 
complices were tried and executed. 

At the beginning of A-pril, the Con-fed-er-ate army under General 
John-ston was at Ra-leigh, closely watched by Sher-man. On the loth Sher- 



THE MARCH TO THE SEA. 



221 



man began to press back, and on the 13th entered Ra-leigh. At this time news 
reached John-ston of Lee's surrender, and he at once made proposals to Sher- 
man. On A-pril 26th, the terms of surrender were signed by both generals. 
Da-vis, the Con-fed-er-ate president, was captured on the loth of May at Ir- 




THE WHITE HOUSE. 



wins-ville, Geor-gia, while trying to escape to the sea-coast. He was sent 
prisoner to Fortress Mon-roe. By the end of May all the Con-fed-er-ate 
armies in the Southwest had surrendered, and the Civil War was at an end. 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 
FROM LINCOLN TO CLEVPXAND. 

In the fall of the year i362, Pres-i-dent Lin-coln warned the Con-fed- 
er-ate states that unless they returned to the Un-ion, he would declare every 
slave within their borders free on the ist of Jan-u-a-ry, 1863. True to his word 
he issued the famous "E-man-ci-pa-tion Pro-cla-ma-tion." The principal 
events of his administration have been told in the chapters devoted to the Civil 
War. By his death, Vice-Pres-i-dent An-drew John-son became Pres-i-dent. 
The most important enterprise during Pres-i-dent John-son's administration 
was the laying of the At-lan-tic cable. In 1869, Gen-er-al U-lys-ses S. Grant, 
the hero of the Rebellion, was elected Pres-i-dent. Shortly before his inaugu- 
ration both houses of Con-gress agreed to recommend to the legislatures of the 
different states the passage of the fifteenth amendment to the Constitution in 
the following words: "the right of the citizens of the U-nit-ed States to vote 
shall not be denied or abridged by the U-nit-ed States, or any state on account 
of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." During the first of Pres-i- 
dent Grant's administration the country was prosperous and the southern 
states which now belong to the Un-ion, were beginning to get used to the new 
condition of being without slaves. The year of 1871 was made remarkable for a 
great fire which nearly destroyed the city of Chi-ca-go. It is said that this great 
calamity, which resulted in the loss of property amounting to nearly two 
hundred million dollars, was caused by a cow kicking over a lamp in a stable. 
But the country continued to improve and many important events occurred. 
One of these was the. completion of the great railway connecting the Mis-sis- 
sip-pi Valley with the Pa-cif-ic coast, 1,776 miles long; another was the settle- 
ment of the claims made by the U-nit-ed States against Eng-land, by which it 
was decided to pay this country fifteen and a half million dollars in gold, for 
losses sustained by Con-fed-er-ate cruisers during the civil war. The north- 
western boundary question between Great Bri-tain and the U-nit-ed States was 
settled by the Em-pe-ror of Ger-ma-ny, to whose decision it had been left. 

222 



FROM LINCOLN TO CLEVELAND. 223 

In 1873, Gen-er-al Grant was re-elected by a large majority and soon after the 
prosperity of the country came to a sudden stop and a period of depression fol- 
lowed. This was one of the results of the civil war. 

The discovery of gold in the Black Hills had drawn a large number of 
settlers to that section of the country, and many of them took advantage of this 
to overrun the In-di-an reservation of the Sioux, who declared for war. In an 
engagement with the savages Gen-er-al George A. Cus-ter was killed, with 261 
men. On May 10, 1876, the great Cen-ten-ni-al Ex-hi-bi-tion was formally 
opened by Pres-i-dent Grant. In 1877 Ru-ther-ford B. Hayes was elected Pres- 
i-dent. L^p to this time it had been thought necessary to keep armed troops 
in some sections of the South but Pres-i-dent Hayes stated that he would with- 
draw the soldiers from Louis-i-a-na and South Car-o-li-na, which he did, and the 
southern people were allowed to manage their own afifairs. The administration 
of Pres-i-dent Hayes was very quiet for the country had entered upon a season 
of prosperity. In 1881, Gen-er-al James A. Gar-field was chosen Pres-i-dent. 
Shortly after his inauguration, however, the country was startled to learn that 
he had been shot when about to start on a journey to the North. The wretch 
who did this was probably insane, but it was a great shock to every one to know 
that another Pres-i-dent had met liis death by the assassin's bullet. Vice-Pres- 
i-dent Ches-ter A. Ar-thur succeeded to the presidency and gave an able 
administration. 

After twenty years of power the Re-pub-li-can party was defeated in the 
election of 1884, and the nominee of the Dem-o-crat-ic party, Grover Cleve- 
land, was elected Pres-i-dent. In 1885, the country was saddened to learn 
Gen-er-al Grant was dying. A fatal disease had seized the brave old warrior, 
and although the hero struggled bravely against his fate he was obliged to 
surrender at last to the enemy, who sooner or later, defeats us all. It was not 
long before other noted generals passed away; Mc-Clel-lan, Han-cock and 
Lo-gan soon joined the army in the skies. Although Pres-i-dent Cleve-land 
liad a great many difficulties to contend with, he endeavored to do his duty, 
as he saw it. 

In 1889, the Re-pub-li-cans were again victorious and elected Ben- 
ja-min Har-ri-son. One of the first events of his administration was the opening 
of the Ok-la-ho-ma Ter-ri-to-ry to settlers. On the evening before the day set 
apart for the settlement of this tract of land, it is said that over 50,000 people 
were waiting on its outskirts. When morning came they swarmed over the 
territory, and before night every piece of farming land had been taken. On 



224 FROM LINCOLN tO CLEVELAND. 

A-pril 30, 1889, the Cen-ten-ni-al An-ni-ver-sa-ry of George Wash-ing-ton's in- 
auguration was celebrated throughout the country. On the night of A pnl 28, 
Pres-i-dent Har-ri-son left Wash-ing-ton for New York City and traversed the 
same route that Wash-ing-ton had a hundred years before. When he arrived 
in New York City, he was entertained with great ceremony. On the morning 
of the 30th of A-pril he attended services at St. Paul's Church, sitting in the 
same pew that Wash-ing-ton had occupied. The Pres-i-dent was then escorted 
to the Sub-Treas-u-ry building, where the exercises were to be held, and on the 
spot where George Wash-ing-ton had taken his oath of office, he delivered a 
short but eloquent address. The four years of his term were full of striking 
events. In 1889 the Pan-A-mer-i-can Con-gress of all A-mer-i-ca met in Wash- 
ing-ton. In the spring of 1891 U-nit-ed States came very near having a war 
with I-ta-ly, and later in the year with Chi-li, but the disputes were settled with- 
out bloodshed. 

The McKinley bill went into effect Au-gust 6, 1890, but the enactment 
of the bill was probably the cause of the Re-pub-li-can defeat for many did not 
believe in extreme protection. Several prominent people died during the first 
months of 1893, and among them were Ex-Pres-i-dent Ru-ther-ford B. Hayes, 
Ben-ja-min F. But-ler and James G. Blaine. 

In 1893, Gro-ver Cleve-land succeeded to the office of Pres-i-dent and at 
once called an extra session of Con-gress to consider laws on the currency, and 
tariff reform. The result was the enactment of a law, which directly opposed the 
•McKinley Bill. The year 1894, was made memorable by many labor strikes 
throughout the country, and of a great strike at Chi-ca-go. Here many acts of 
violence occurred, and Pres-i-dent Cleve-land ordered troops to protect the 
city. The discussion of the money question is now the most important topic. 



CHAPTER XXIX. 
OUR NAVY. 

The Story of A-mer-i-ca would not be complete without a few words 
concerning the U-nit-ed States Na-vy. Pride in its nav}' was one of the earliest 
sentiments cherished in the hearts of the A-mer-i-can people, and the gallant 
deeds performed upon the high seas in the first years of the nation's existence 
will not fade from the pages of its history. In referring to the navy of the past, 
it is impossible to avoid recalling the individual interest and personal satisfac- 
tion that all its members felt in it and such feelings were fostered by the 
superiority of its ships. 

The colonies could not afford to build vessels of adequate si^e to con- 
tend with men-of-war that they had to meet in battle, but the few that they 
owned were well adapted to meet the small Bri-tish cruisers, and to capture 
merchantmen. The frigates of this early day were small vessels, varying from 
six hundred to a thousand tons. The ships that were built in 1794 were con- 
structed according to the most advanced ideas of the time, and the wooden 
vessels belonging to the U-nit-ed States and sailing the ocean between 1840 
and i860 w^ere the finest in the world. The old frigate Con-gress, and the 
sloop Ports-mouth were noble ships for their time, and models which ot'ier 
maritime nations imitated. During this greatest era of sailing vessels, from 1840 
to i860, steam began to be used, and was introduced as an auxiliary power. 
The naturally inventive genius of A-mer-i-can ship-builders enabled them to 
adopt the new force so successfully that the U-nit-ed States vessels continued 
to be prominent for many years as models from w-hich other naval powers 
might copy. Before sailing vessels were finally abandoned, a number of large 
ships were built. These ships were sort of a compromise between steamers 
and sailing vessels, and they did good service. The Mis-sis-sip-pi, the Mis- 
sou-ri, the Sus-que-han-na, the Sar-a-nac, and the Pow-ha-tan belonged to 
this class. They were launched between 1840 and 1850, and were a credit to the 
country. The Pow-ha-tan is now an interesting relic of this transition period of 
15 225 




W 
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OUR NAVY. 227 

naval architecture. She was built of seasoned live oak, and retained so much 
of her original seaworthiness that, in 1886, she was still upon the list of the 
navy. In the last years of her usefulness, the Pow-ha-tan was employed in 
transporting relief crews from As-pin-wall to Pa-na-ma, 

When those who realized the great future power of steam began to 
agitate the subject of supplanting sailing vessels by steamers, there was at 
first a great deal of hesitancy about making such a radical change. It was 
advocated that the new ship should be provided with full steam power, using 
sails as an auxiliary, but the old pride in the sailing vessels could not be made 
to yield at once to the new inventions. It was considered a great concession 
to admit steam at all, but the U-nit-ed States Government was not the only 
nation conservative in improving its navy. The other maritime powers pur- 
sued the same course, and for many years the U-nit-ed States retained the 
lead in producing the most creditable type of war ships. 

In 1854, Con-gress passed a law ordering the construction of a new 
class of frigates. The Mer-ri-mac was the first of these new vessels to be 
launched, and she showed a great advance in ship-building. When she was 
sent to Eu-ro-pe-an waters she attracted great attention from foreign naval 
architects, who immediately copied her. The vessels built after the Mer-ri- 
mac model were the best ships of the time in the Eng-lish navy. In 1858, 
what was known as the Hart-ford class of large corvettes began to be built. 
This class comprised the Hart-ford, Brook-lyn, the Pen-sa-co-la, the Rich- 
mond, and the Lan-cas-ter. These ships were imitated by Eng-land and 
France. They were of good speed and were used for cruising in foreign 
ports. Being built of wood, they required frequent repairs, and they are 
gradually being struck from the list of commissioned vessels. 

The Kear-sarge belonged to another type of war ship. The Kear-sarge 
was built in 1859, and several vessels of the same pattern were launched just 
before the war. During the war, vessels were built with a special regard for 
the purposes for which they were to be used. It was necessary to construct 
ships as rapidly as possible, in order to protect the coast, and what were known 
as "ninety-day gun-boats" and "double-enders" were hastily built. Merchant 
steamers were also armed with such batteries as they could carry. This extra- 
ordinary increase of vessels, under the pressure of necessity, was not produc- 
tive of permanent benefit to the navy, and the emergency ships soon disap- 
peared when they were no longer needed. The Ju-nia-ta and Os-si-pee, which 




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OUR NAVY. 229 

were launched in 1852, belonged to the Kear-sarge type and proved capable 
of good service. 

The Mon-i-tor marked a new era in naval architecture and created a 
great sensation when it appeared. It was the invention of Captain John Er- 
ics-son, and saved the Un-ion fleet at Hamp-ton Roads, Captain Er-ics-son's 
inventive mind had early conceived the idea of the revolving turret in con- 
nection with the floating battery. In 1854, he had offered the device to 
Na-po-le-on III, only to have it rejected; but he believed in it, if Na-po-le-on 
did not, and, 1861, proposed the novel idea to the U-nit-ed States Naval 
Department. His proposition met with encouragement, and he was given a 
contract to build his first vessel, after his long cherished plan. By an ex- 
traordinary display of energy, the vessel was completed in one hundred days, 
and arrived at Hamp-ton Roads, March 9, 1862, just after the iron-clad 
TNler-ri-mac had sunk the Cum-ber-land and the Con-gress, and was about to 
destroy the whole wooden fleet. The "cheesebox on a raft," as the Con-fed- 
er-ates called the Mon-i-tor, defeated the Mer-ri-mac, and the complete success 
of Captain Er-ics-son's invention revolutionized the navies of the whole civ- 
ilized world. 

The original Mon-i-tor was lost at sea, but other ships were built after 
Er-ics-son's peculiar model. There is no doubt that the Mon-i-tor was the 
first of the turreted vessels of the world. Although it made so great an inno- 
vation in naval construction, its essential principles were never universally 
approved by naval architects. The Mon-i-tor was like a raft carrying a 
revolving turret. It was constantly submerged by the v\'aves, but its depth of 
draft insured its stability. The circular form of the revolving turret was well 
suited to deflect tlie enemy's projectiles. Machinery was employed to move 
the turret and so point the guns, and there were many other advantages in the 
new war ship. Since the war, many improvements have been made in the 
monitors, and they form a conspicuous feature of modern fleets. 

The double-turrcted monitors, of which the Ter-ror is an example, were 
subsequently built. They were, unfortunately, constructed of wood, which 
had already been condemned abroad as an unsuitable material for building 
war ships. The duration of these wooden turreted vessels was not long, and 
new vessels of this order, three of which bear old names, were rebuilt of iron. 
In 1874, some vessels known as the Ad-ams class were built and 
launched. These vessels were of wood, convenient, and handy, and were in- 
tended as cruisers in time of peace. The Ma-ri-on class of sloops, launched 




ADMIRAL FARRAGUT. 



OUR NAVY. 231 

about this time, were also built of wood. The A-lert is one of three vessels 
that were built of iron in 1874. She was constructed as a laudable experiment 
to improve and change the material for construction. This effort was partly 
induced by pressure from the iron interest of the country. The change was, 
however, limited to the small class of diminutive vessels. This improvement 
m material was not, however, relied on, for in 1876 the Tren-ton was launched 
She w^as built of wood, and represented the latest type in the navy. 

For fifteen years after the civil war, the navy steadily deteriorated and 
its decrepit condition was a reproach to the country. Its old reputation for 
proficiency and advancement was lost. The Government pursued a temporiz- 
ing policy and maintained an economical attitude toward it. It was, however, 
not the intention that the navy should be neglected or abolished. Yearly 
appropriations were passed for its support, and its needs were frequently pre- 
sented to Con-gress. The amounts appropriated were, however, not large 
enough to permit many new constructions of ships or artillery. Wooden ships 
were repaired where steel ships should have been built, and cast-iron guns 
were used where steel guns should have been placed. 

The rapidity with which a large fleet of cruising vessels was built and 
brought together during the Civil War, left the impression upon the public 
mind that, in case of any great emergency, the deficiency in the navy could be 
hastily supplied. Being favored with peace at home and abroad, it seemed 
wiser to allow other countries to improve upon naval equipments, believing 
that w^hen the necessary time came, the U-nit-ed States could profit by the 
experiments of other maritime powers. After a long interval of indifference 
in regard to the navy, attention was at last centered on the subject. It was 
seen how rapidly naval improvements had been made in foreign countries, and 
how utterly the United States was distanced by the other maritime powers. A 
growing desire arose to repair the effects of past neglect, and Con-gress began 
to move in the matter. The origin of the first effort to improve the navy dates 
from June, 1881, when the advisory board was appointed to consider and to 
report on the needs of the navy. This board, on No-vem-ber 7, 188 1, decided 
that the U-nit-ed States Xa-vy should consist of seventy unarmored cruisers 
of steel. It reported that there were thirty-two vessels in the navy fit for cruis- 
ers, and it indicated the character of the vessels, and did not discuss the subject 
of armored ships, although it expressed the opinion that such vessels were in- 
dispensable in time of war. It was some time before any pracital results fol- 
lowed from the action of this board; but in 1883, Con-gress authorized the 



OUR NAVY. 233 

building of three steam cruisers and a dispatch boat. These vessels were the 
Chi-ca-go, the Bos-ton, the At-a-lan-ta and the Dol-phin. In the act of Con- 
gress, approved in March, 1885, four additional vessels were authorized. These 
were the first steps toward our new navy. 

Up to the time of this new movement, no steel for ships had been rolled 
in the U-nit-ed States. Construction in A-mer-i-can iron plates had been ex- 
tensively carried on, but steel-plating was imported at great cost to the ship- 
builder. The question of naval material has always been a most important one. 
Before 1840, the science of naval construction had not advanced for two hun- 
dred years, all ships being built of wood. In the next two decades there was 
rapid progress, and since the war innumerable inventions have revolutionized 
ship-building. 

The Dol-phin caused much discussion when first launched, but she has 
proved a staunch vessel and capable of good service. Though not regarded 
as a vessel for fighting purposes, she is a ship of the class that is needed in all 
navies as a dispatch boat. Her advent in the navy marked a new period — 
the inauguartion of the successful manufacture in the U-nit-ed States of 
A-mer-i-can rolled steel ship-plating. The Dol-phin is the first vessel, whether 
for naval or for commercial purposes, to be built entirely of steel of home 
manufacture. The Dol-phin has proved herself eminently successful, and, 
with the exception of the steam yacht At-a-ian-ta, is the fastest sea steamer of 
her displacement built in the U-nit-ed States. 

All the ships of the new navy are built of steel and modeled after well- 
tested designs. Fifteen of the vessels that were last authorizd by Con-gfress are 
(in 1889) in course of construction are but recently completed. On Oc-to-ber 
8, 1888, the U-nit-ed States cruiser Bal-ti-more was launched at Phil-a-del-phi-a. 
The Bal-ti-more was the first cruiser built for the new navy. 

Before the Sa-mo-an Disaster, the U-nit-ed States numbered ninety-two 
serviceable vessels, fifteen of the first class, thirteen of the second class, forty- 
three of the third class and seven of the fourth class. These carried in all four 
hundred and eleven guns. Besides, there were twelve tugs and a number of 
wooden sailing vessels. 

The new navy, when completed, will comprise of the armored vessels, 
the Pur-i-tan, the Mi-an-o-no-mah, the Am-phi-trite, the Mo-nad-nock and the 
Ter-ror. All of these are iron-clad and each carry four ten-inch breech-loading 
guns, besides powerful secondary batteries. Of this class the Maine and the 



OUR NAVY. 235 

Tex-as were the last to be launched. In addition to these armored vessels, 
there are to be six iron-clad monitors, each carrying fifteen-inch smooth-bore 
guns. Of the unarmored vessels recently built, the Chi-ca-go, the Bos-ton, 
the At-a-lan-ta and the Dol-phin are all of steel. Last to be built are the 
Charles-ton, the Bal-ti-more, the New-ark, the York-town, the Phil-a-del-phi-a, 
the San Fran-cis-co, the Con-cord and the Ben-ning-ton. They carry alto- 
gether ninety-four rifle guns. There has recently been built a steel cruiser, 
Ve-su-vi-us, with three twelve-inch guns and two second-class torpedo boats. 
Twenty-eight vessels in all have been added to the navy, and Con-gress ap- 
propriated an additional sum of two million dollars for floating batteries and 
other naval equipments. With the rehabilitation of the navy an effort was 
made to dispense with all the old vessels that had lost prestige with the im- 
provement in ship-building. The few wooden ships which carry the flag to 
other countries were gradually condemned, and it has been estimated that in 
1898 the entire wooden navy will have disappeared. 

A few words about naval artillery cannot but be interesting. From the 
time of the invention of cast-iron cannon, in the year 1558, the improvement in 
artillery was very slow. It was thought that the cannon was such a wonderful 
invention that it was an impertinence to think of improving it. The first guns 
were muzzle-loaders. There had been rude attempts at breech-loading, but 
they were soon abandoned. The guns were of a number of calibres to suit the 
weight of the batteries on the ships. At the end of the eighteenth century what 
was known as an eighteen-pounder was the preferred gun for the main-deck 
batteries of frigates. The eighteen-pounder was the largest calibre used on the 
ships of the U-nit-ed Col-o-nies of North A-mer-i-ca in the war of the Re-bel- 
lion. In the war of 1812, the carronade was adopted as a spar-deck armament of 
frigates. The advantage of large calibre guns was firmly impressed upon those 
who occupied themselves with naval matters. As the fleet was developed, the 
twenty-four-pounders gave way to the thirty-two-pounders, and then the forty- 
two-pounders were introduced. In time, the forty-two-pounder was, however, 
abandoned and the thirty-two-pounder was retained as the largest calibre. In 
the interval between 1840 and 1845, the thirty-two-pounder was replaced by a 
gun of the same calibre, of greater weight, called the long thirty-two-pounder. 
Up to this time, no explosive projectiles had been used with cannon, properly 
so-called. Mortars were originally used for projecting huge balls of stone at 
high angles. They were first used in 1624, but the unwieldy weight of the in- 
struments prevented their use in the field. To provide for field use, light mor- 



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■Si ; 







OUR NAVY. 237 

tars were cast, which, when mounted on wheels, were denominated "howitz- 
ers." A mortar was never used in naval armament, although it has been em- 
ployed upon ships engaged in bombarding cities. The success of explosive 
projectiles did not immediately lead to their application to horizontal firing 
from cannon. 

The shell gun marks an important event in naval artillery. It required 
many years to bring it into general use, so as to displace the solid-shot gun. 
The first U-nit-ed States vessel, the battery of which was composed exclusively 
of shell guns, was the sloop-of-war Ports-mouth, in 1856. With shell guns, 
much depended upon the successful working of the fuse of the shell, without 
which it was but a hollow substitute for a solid shot. The fuses which were 
used to explode the first bombs were long wooden plugs, bored and filled with 
powder. This fuse was improved upon, and the U-nit-ed States naval fuse be- 
came justly famous, one feature of it being a simple and an effective device 
called a water-cap, which guarded against injury from water when the shell 
was fired. 

Previous to the introduction of shells, incendiary projectiles had been 
in use. They were simply intended to set fire to the ships of the enemy, and 
were not explosive. Hot shot was employed for this purpose, but it was used 
chiefly in batteries on shore. Within the twenty-five years following the civil 
war, marvelous advances have been made in artillery. Dynamite has entered 
into the composition of explosives, and the carrying power of all sorts of fire- 
arms has been greatly increased. Steel guns have succeeded those of iron, and 
will be used in the artillery of the new navy. The necessity of a change in the 
naval artillery of the U-nit-ed States was recognized for a number of years, but 
it was impossible to obtain steel of domestic manufacture for the new guns. So 
the men-of-war were compelled to make their cruises abroad with antiquated 
batteries that were inferior to those carried by ships belonging to other nations. 

The torpedo has had a great influence upon naval warfare. Millions 
of dollars have been spent by Eu-ro-pe-an powers in experimenting with this 
deadly implement of destruction. Its introduction into the artillery of the 
navy necessitates an additional fleet of torpedo boats. In former times, a fleet 
consisted simply of battle ships. Dispatch boats were added later. The tor- 
pedo has made it necessary to adopt a new class of vessels, called "torpedo boat 
captures." The duty of these boats is to destroy the torpedo boats of the 
enemy. They have great speed and are provided with powerful batteries. The 
Eng-lish and French governments were the first to adopt them. 



OtJR NAVY. 2S9 

In the early period of its history there was no such branch of the 
Government as the Department of War, In the first of our great wars (that 
of 1812) there were only twenty ships in the navy, the organization of which 
was of the simplest character; but these few ships were the best of their 
class afloat. There being no organization of policy, each commander 
of a vessel was compelled to act for himself; thus Hull, De-ca-tur 
and Por-ter — all of them young men — made great reputations for themselves 
by their sagacity and courage. In 181 5 a board of three officers was appointed, 
styled the Naval Com-mis-sion-ers, who had charge of all the work of the de- 
partment. The board was to perform, under a secretary, all the ministerial 
duties of his office. In 1845, this board of commissioners was replaced by the 
bureau system, which, with some changes, has continued until the present time. 
The bureaus, when first organized, were not qualified to direct the navy. As 
a working force, the navy was without any direction. There was no re- 
sponsible officer to superintend the training of officers or the enrollment, as- 
signment and disciplining of seamen. No one was competent to attend to the 
disposition of vessels or other important work. The effect of this half-reform 
became evident in 1861, when the department was suddenly plunged into war. 
No one had the faintest idea what to do or whose business it was to do any- 
thing. The chiefs of the bureaus had various duties. One managed the navy 
yards, another had charge of the construction of ships and a third superin- 
tended the building of guns. A fourth supplied provisions. The department 
had no office organized for stafif work; it contained no information upon which 
to act; it had no machinery by which information could be procured, and at 
this critical time the department, which had been maintained for sixty years 
for the service of the country, was found to be entirely wanting in the means 
of conducting war. At this time, Captain Fox was appointed chief clerk of the 
Navy Department, and he did a lasting service in organizing an efficient ad- 
ministration of naval afifairs, and in appointing able men to carry out his plans. 
The number of the war bureaus was increased during the war to eight. In 
1882, an important office was added to these bureaus. It was called the Office 
of Naval Intelligence, and was created for the purpose of collecting and sys- 
tematizing information concerning the resources and movem€nts of foreign 
navies. 



J^' 








LIST OP 

PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS. 



President. 
^®* Term of Office. 


State. 


Vice-President. 


I George Washington, - 
Two terms, 1789-97. 


• Virginia. - 


John Adams. 


2 John Adams, ... 
One term, 1 797-1 801. 


Massachusetts. 


Thomas Jefferson. 


3 Thomas Jefferson, 

Two terms, 1801-09. 


Virginia. - 


Aaron Burr. 
George Clinton. 


4 James Madison, ... 

Two terms, 1809-17. 

5 James Monroe, ... 

Two terms, 1817-25. 


Virginia. - 
Virginia. - 


George Clinton. 
Elbridge Gerry. 
Daniel D. Tompkins. 


6 John Q. Adams, - - - 

One term, 1825-29. 

7 Andrew Jackson, - - - 

Two terms, 1829-37. 


Massachusetts. 
Tennessee. 


John C. Calhoun. 

John C. Calhoun. 
Martin Van Buren. 


8 Martin Van Buren, - 
One term, 1837-41. 


New York. - 


Richard M. Johnson. 


9 William H. Harrison, - 
One month, 1841. 


Ohio. - - - 


John Tyler. 


10 John Tyler, - - . - Virginia. 
Three years and 11 months, 1841-45. 




II James K. Polk, ... 
One term, 1845-49. 


Tennessee. 


George M. Dallas. 


12 Zachary Taylor, - . - 

One year and 4 months, 

13 Millard Fillmore, 

Two years and 8 months, 


Louisiana. - 
1849-50. 
New York. 
1850-53. 


Millard Fillmore. 


14 Franklin Pierce, - - - 
One term, 1853-57. 


New Hampshire 


:. William R. King. 


15 James Buchanan, 

One term, 1857-61. 


Pennsylvania. 


J. C. Breckinridge. 


i.i 


241 





ViS^ 




X 





LIST OF PRESIDENTS AND VICE-PRESIDENTS. 



243 



No. 



President. 
Term of Office. 



i6 Abraham Lincoln, - - Illinois. 

One term and i month. 
/7 Andrew Johnson, - - Tennessee. 

Three years and 1 1 months. 

1 8 Ulysses S. Grant, - - Illinois. 

Two terms, 1869-77. 

19 Rutherford B. Hayes, - Ohio. 

One term, 1877-81. 

20 James A. Garfield, - - Ohio. 

Six and a half months, 1881. 

21 Chester A. Arthur, - - New York. 

Three years, 5 and a half months, 1 8^ 

22 Grover Cleveland, - - New York. 

One term, 1885-89. 

23 Benjamin Harrison, - - Indiana. - 

1889-93. 

24 Grover Cleveland, - New York. 

1893- 



ViCE-Pa ESICBNT. 

Hannibal Hamlin. 
Andrew Johnson. 



Schuyler Colfax. 
Henry Wilson. 
William A. Wheeler, 

Chester A. Arthur. 



1-85. 



Thos. A. Hendricks, 



- Levi P. Morton. 



Adlai E. Stevenson. 



z'^" 



V: 




y^/i^t<xOc, Z^CC OCy^'^'^^ ^^K, 



THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 




JOHN HANCOCK. 

THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 

In Congress^ July ^, ///d. 

The Unanimous Declaration of the Thirteen United 

States of America: 
When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one 
people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with 
another, and to assume, among the powers of the earth, the separate 
and equal station to which the laws of nature and nature's God entitle 
them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they 
should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold 
these truths to be self-evident: That all men are created equal; that they 
are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that 
among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness; that to 
secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving 
their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any 
form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right ot 
the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute a new government, 

245 




'4^^ 



^^j;^r^-''^''3»-2>^^ 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 247 

laying its foundations on such principles, and organizing its powers in 
such form as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and 
happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that governments long 
established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and, 
accordingly, all experience hath shown that mankind are more disposed 
to suffer while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolish- 
ing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of 
abuses and usurpation, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a 
design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is 
their duty, to throw off such a government, and to provide new guards 
for their future security. Such has been the patient suffering of these 
colonies, and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter 
their former system of government. The history of the present King 
of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all 
having in direct object the establishment of an absolute tyranny over 
these States. To prove this, let facts be submitted to a candid world. 
He has refused his assent to laws the most wholesome and necessary 
for the public good. 

He has forbidden his governors to pass laws of immediate and 
pressing importance, unless suspended in their operations till his assent 
should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to 
attend to them. 

He has refused to pass other laws for the accomodation of large 
districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of 
representation in the legislature— a right inestimable to them, and 
formidable to tyrants only. 

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncom- 
fortable and distant from the repository of their public records, for the 
sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures. 

He has dissolved representative houses repeatedly for opposing, 
with manly firmness, his invasions on the rights of the people. 

He has refused, for a long time after such dissolutions, to cause 
others to be elected, whereby the legislative powers, incapable of 
annihilation, have returned to the people at large for their exercise, the 
State remaining, in the meantime, exposed to all the dangers of invasion 
from without and convulsions within. 

He has endeavored to prevent the population of these States— for 
that purpose, obstructing the laws for the naturalization of foreigners, 
refusing to pass others to encourage their migration hither, and raising 
the conditions of new appropriations of lands. 



..<K w^< 




J, 2 , tA<XQj^ 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 249 

He has obstructed the administration of justice, by refusing his 
assent to laws for establishing judiciary powers. 

He has made judges dependent on his will alone for the tenure of 
•their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries. 

He has erected a multitude of new offices, and sent hither swarms of 
officers to harass our people and eat out their substance. 

He has kept among us, in time of peace, standing armies, without 
the consent of our legislatures. 

He has aflfected to render the military independent of, and superior 
to, the civil power. 

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign 
to our Constitution and unacknowledged by our laws, giving his assent 
to their acts of pretended legislation; for quartering large bodies of 
armed troops among us; for protecting them, by a mock trial, from 
punishment for any murders which they should commit on the inhabi- 
tants of these States; for imposing taxes on us without our consent; 
for depriving us, in many cases, of the benefits of trial by jury; for 
transporting us beyond the seas to be tried for pretended offences; for 
abolishing the free system of English laws in a neighboring province, 
establishing therein an arbitrary government, and enlarging its bounda- 
ries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing 
the same absolute rule into these colonies; for taking away our charters, 
abolishing our most valuable laws, and altering, fundamentally, the 
forms of governments; for suspending our own legislatures, and 
declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases 
whatever. 

He has abdicated government here by declaring us out of his 
protection, and waging war against us. 

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our coasts, burned our towns, 
and destroyed the lives of our people. 

He is at this time transporting large armies of foreign mercenaries 
to complete the works of death, desolation and tyranny already begun, 
with circumstances of cruelty and perfidy scarcely paralleled in the 
most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the head of a civilized 
nation. 

He has constrained our fellow-citizens, taken captive on the high 
seas, to bear arms against their country, to become the executioners of 
their friends and brethren, or to fall themselves by their hands. 

He has excited domestic insurrection among us, and has endeavored 
tp bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers the merciless Indian savages, 



r 






'^, 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 251 

whose known rule of warfare is an undistinguished destruction of all 
ages, sexes and conditions. 

In every stage of these oppressions we have petitioned for redress in 
the most humble terms. Our repeated petitions have been answered only 
by repeated injury. A prince whose character is thus marked by every 
act which may define a tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people 
Nor have we been wanting in attention to our British brethren 
We have warned them, from time to time, of attempts by their legisla- 
ture to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have 
reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement 
here We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and 
we have conjured them by the ties of a common kindred to disavow 
these usurpations, which would inevitably interrupt our connections and 
correspondence. They, too, have been deaf to the voice of justice and 
consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity which 
denounces our separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of man- 
kind — enemies in war; in peace, friends. 

We, therefore, representatives of the United States of America in 
general congress assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the 
World for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the name and by the 
authority of the good people of these colonies, solemnly publish and 
declare, that these United Colonies are, and of right ought to be free 
and independent States; that they are absolved from all allegiance to 
the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and 
the State of Great Britain is, and ought to be, totally dissolved; and 
that ^sfree and independent States, they have full power to levy war 
conclude peace, contract alliances, establish commerce, and do all other 
acts and things which independent States may of right do. And for 
the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of 
Divme Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives our 
fortunes, and our sacred honor. John Hancock. ' 

New Hampshire.— Josmh Bartlett, William Whipple, Matthew 
Thornton. 

Massachusetts Bay.— SsimM^i Adams, John Adams, Robert Treat 
Paine, Elbridge Gerry. 

Rhode Islajtd, ^/r.— Stephen Hopkins, William Ellery. 
Connectiait.— Robert Sherman, Samuel Huntington, William 
Williams, Oliver Wolcott. 

New York.— WiWi^m Floyd, Philip Livingstone, Francis Lewis • 
Lewis Morris. * 




V 



"^^ 



<?'>7-'e^<^ '^^^--^'^'^^^^^t^ 



DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. 



253 



New fersey. — Richard Stockton, John Witherspoon, Francis Hop- 
kinson, John Hart, Abraham Clark. 

Pennsylvania. — Robert Morris, Benjamin Rush, Benjamin Franklin, 
John Morton, George Clymer, James Smith, George Taylor, James 
Wilson, George Ross. 

Delaware.— C2^s2ir Rodney, George Read, Thomas M. Kean. 

Maryland. — Samuel Chase, William Paca, Thomas Stone, Charles 
Carroll, of CarroUton. 

Virginia. — George Wythe, Richard Henry Lee, Thomas Jefferson, 
Benjamin Harrison. Thomas Nelson, Jr., Francis Lightfoot Lee, Carter 
Braxton. 

North Carolina. — William Hooper, Joseph Hewes, John Penn. 

South Carolina. — Edward Rutledge, Thomas Hay ward, Jr., Thomas 
Lynch, Jr., Arthur Middleton. 

Georgia. — Button Gwinnett, Lyman Hall, George Walton. 




OLD LIBERTY BELL. 



^^^^^ 




,/• 



^^/y^. 



->y'i>t^^fcru^^ 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 



We, the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect 
union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the 
common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings 
of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this 
Constitution for the United States of America. 

ARTICLE I. 

^ Section i. All legislative powers herein granted shall be vested 
m a Congress of th^ United States, which shall consist of a Senate and 
House of Representatives. 

Sec. 2. The House of Representatives shall be composed of mem- 
hers chosen every second year by the people of the several States, and 
the electors in each State shall have the qualifications requisite for 
electors of the most numerous branches of the State legislature 

No person shall be a Representative who shall not have attained to 
the age of twenty-five years, and been seven years a citizen of the United 
States, and who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State 
in which he shall be chosen. 

Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the 
several States which may be included within this Union, according to 
their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the 
whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a 
term of years, and, excluding Indians not taxed, three-fifths of all other 
persons. The actual enumeration shall be made within three years 
after the first meeting of the Congress of the United States and within 
every subsequent term of ten years, in such a manner as they shall by 
law direct. The number of Representatives shall not exceed one for 
every thirty thousand, but each shall have at least one Representative; 
and, until such enumeration shall be made, the State of New Hamp- 
shire shall be entitled to choose three, Massachusetts eight, Rhode 
Island and Providence Plantations one, Connecticut five. New York 
six, New Jersey four, Pennsylvania eight, Delaware one, Maryland six, 
' irginia ten. North Carolina five, South Carolina five and Georgia 
three. " 

When vacancies happen in the representation from any State, the 



'dob 




, iSt.^ 




CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 257 

executive authority thereof shall issue writs of election to fill such 
vacancies. 

The House of Representatives shall choose their Speaker and other 
officers and shall have the sole power of impeachment. 

Sec. 3. The Senate of the United States shall be composed of two 
Senators from each State, chosen by the legislature thereof for six years, 
and each Senator shall have one vote. 

Immediately after they shall be assembled in consequence of the first 
election, they shall be divided, as equally as may be, into three classes. 
The seats of the Senators of the first class shall be vacated at the expi- 
ration of the second year, of the second class at the expiration of the 
fourth year, and of the third class at the expiration of the sixth year, 
so that one-third may be chosen every second year, and if vacancies 
happen, by resignation or otherwise, during the recess of the legislature 
of any State, the executive thereof may make temporary appointments 
until the next meeting of the legislature, which shall then fill such 
vacancies. 

No person shall be a Senator who shall not have attained the age 
of thirty years, and been nine years a citizen of the United States, and 
who shall not, when elected, be an inhabitant of that State for which he 
shall be chosen. 

The Vice-President of the United States shall be President of the 
Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided. 

The Senate shall choose their other officers, and also a president 
pro tempore^ in the absence of the Vice-President, or when he shall 
exercise the office as President of the United States. 

The Senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments. 
When sitting for that purpose they shall be on oath or affirmation. 
When the President of the United States is tried, the Chief Justice shall 
preside, and no person shall be convicted without the concurrence of 
two-thirds of the members present. 

Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than to 
removal from office, and disqualification to hold any office of honor, 
trust or profit under the United States; but the party convicted shall, 
nevertheless, be liable and subject to indictment, trial, judgment and 
punishment according to law. 

Sec. 4. The times, places and manner of holding elections for 

Senators and Representatives shall be prescribed in each State by the 

legislature thereof; but the Congress may, at any time, by law, make 

or alter such regulations, except as to the places of choosing Senators. 
17 




^^ 



■"^ 



oc^ 



.x: 



-&- — 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 259 

The Congress shall assemble at least once every year; and such meet- 
ing shall be on the first Monday in December, unless they shall by law 
appoint a diflferent day. 

Sec. 5. Each house shall be the judge of elections, returns and 
qualifications of its own members; and a majority of each shall constitute 
a quorum to do business; but a smaller number may adjourn from day 
to day, and may be authorized to compel the attendance of absent 
members, in such manner, and under such penalties as each house may 
provide. Each house may determine the rules of its proceedings, 
punish its members for disorderly behavior, and, with the concurrence 
of two-thirds, expel a member. 

Each house shall keep a journal of its proceedings, and from time 
to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may, in their judg- 
ment, require secrecy; and the yeas and nays of the members of either 
house, on any question, shall, at the desire of one-fifth of those present, 
be entered on the journal. 

Neither house, during the session of Congress, shall, without the 
consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other 
place than that in which the two houses shall be sitting. 

Sec. 6. The Senators and Representatives shall receive a compen- 
sation for their services, to be ascertained by law, and paid but of the 
Treasury of the United States. They shall, in all cases except treason, 
felony, and breach of the peace, be privileged from arrest during their 
attendance at the session of their respective houses, and in going to and 
returning from the same; and for any speech or debate in either house, 
they shall not be questioned in any other place. 

No Senator or Representative shall, during the time for which he 
was elected, be appointed to any civil office under the authority of 
the United States which shall have been created, or the emoluments 
whereof shall have been increased, during such time; and no person 
holding any office under the United States shall be a member of either 
house during his continuance in office. 

Sec. 7. All bills for raising revenue shall originate in the House of 
Representatives; but the Senate may propose or concur with amend- 
ments, as on other bills. 

Every bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and 
the Senate, shall, before it become a law, be presented to the President 
of the United States; if he approve, he shall sign it, but if not, he shall 
return it, with his objections, to that house in which it shall have 
originated, who shall enter the objections at large on their journal, and 




mi 




CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 261 

proceed to reconsider it. If, after such reconsideration, two-thirds of 
that house shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with 
the objections, to the other house, by which it shall likewise be recon- 
sidered, and if approved by two-thirds of that house, it shall become a 
law. But, in all such cases, the votes of both houses shall be determined 
by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against 
the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively. If 
any bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days (Sundays 
excepted) after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall be a 
law in like manner as if he had signed it, unless the Congress by their 
adjournment prevent its return, in which case it shall not be a law. 

Every order, resolution, or vote, to which the concurrence of the 
Senate and House of Representatives may be necessary (except on a 
question of adjournment) shall be presented to the President of the 
United States; and before the same shall take effect, shall be approved 
by him, or, being disapproved by him, shall be repassed by two-thirds 
of the Senate and House of Representatives, according to the rules and 
limitations prescribed in case of a bill. 

Sec. 8. The Congress shall have power to lay and collect taxes, 
duties, imposts and excises, to pay the debts, and to provide for the 
common defence and general welfare of the United States; but all duties, 
imposts and excises shall be uniform throughout the United States. 

To borrow money on the credit of the United States. 

To regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several 
States, and with the Indian tribes. 

To establish an uniform rule of naturalization, and uniform laws on 
the subjects of bankruptcies throughout the United States. 

To coin money, regulate the value thereof, and of foreign coin, and 
fix the standard of weights and measures. 

To provide for the punishment of counterfeiting the securities and 
current coin of the United States. 

To establish post-offices and post roads. 

To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for 
limited times, to authors and inventors, the exclusive right to their 
respective writings and discoveries. 

To constitute tribunals inferior to the Supreme Court. 

To define and punish piracies and felonies committed on the high 
seas, and offences against the law of nations. 

To declare war, grant letters of marque and reprisal, and make rules 
concerning captures on land and water. 






fc 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 263 

To raise and support armies; but no appropriation of money to that 
ase shall be for a longer term than two years. 

To provide and maintain a navy. 

To make rules for the government and regulation of the land and 
naval forces. 

To provide for calling forth the militia to execute the laws of the 
Union, suppress insurrections, and repel invasions. 

To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia, and 
for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of 
the United States, reserving to the States, respectively, the appointment 
of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the 
discipline prescribed by Congress. 

To exercise exclusive legislation, in all cases whatsoever, over such 
districts (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular 
States, and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of government 
of the United States, and to exercise like authority over all places 
purchased by the consent of the legislature of the States in which the 
same shall be, for the erection of forts, magazines, arsenals, dockyards, 
and other needful buildings. 

To make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying 
into execution the foregoing powers, and all other powers vested by this 
Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any depart- 
ment or officer thereof. 

Sec. 9. The migration or importation of such persons, as any of 
the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be 
prohibited by the Congress prior to the year One Thousand Eight 
Hundred and Eight; but a tax, or duty, may be imposed on such impor- 
tation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person. 

The privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, 
unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may 
require it. 

No bill of attainder or ex post facto law shall be passed. 

No capitation or other direct tax shall be laid, unless in proportion 
to the census, or enumeration, hereinbefore directed to be taken. 

No taxes or duty shall be laid on articles exported from any State. 

No preference shall be given by any regulation of commerce or 
revenue to the ports of one State over those of another; nor shall vessels 
bound to or from one State be obliged to enter, clear, or pay duties in 
another. 

No money shall be drawn from the treasury but in consequence of 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 265 

appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of 
the receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published 
from time to time. 

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States, and no 
person holding any office of profit or trust under them shall, without 
the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, 
or title of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign State. 

Sec. io. No State shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confed- 
eration; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of 
credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of 
debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the 
obligation of contracts; or grant a title of nobility. 

No State shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts 
or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary 
for executing its inspection laws; and the net produce of all duties and 
imposts laid by any State on imports or exports shall be for the use of the 
treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the 
revision and control of the Congress. 

No State shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of 
tonnage, keep troops or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any 
agreement or compact with another State or with a foreign power, or 
engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as 
will not admit of delay. 

Sec. II. The executive power shall be vested in a President of the 
United States of America. He shall hold his office during the term of 
four years, and together with the Vice-President, chosen for the same 
term, be elected as follows: 

Each State shall appoint, in such manner as the legislature thereof 
may direct, a number of electors equal to the whole number of Senators 
and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress; 
but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or 
profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. 

The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote by ballot 
for two persons, of whom one, at least, shall not be an inhabitant of 
the State with themselves. And they shall make a list of all the persons 
voted for, and of the number of votes for each, which list they shall 
sign and certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of Government of the 
United States, directed to the President of the Senate. The President 
of the Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Repre- 
sentatives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted. 




w. 



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^ 




^^^^^c/ 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 267 

The person having the greatest number of votes shall be the President, 
if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, 
and if there be more than one who have such majority, and have an 
equal number of votes, then the House of Representatives shall im- 
mediately choose, by ballot, one of them for President, and if no person 
have a majority, then, from the five highest on the list, the said House 
shall, in like manner, choose the President. But, in choosing the 
President, the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from 
each State having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of 
a member or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of 
all the States shall be necessary to a choice. In every case, after the 
choice of the President, the person having the greatest number of votes 
of the electors shall be Vice-President. But, if there should remain 
two or more who have equal votes, the Senate shall choose from them, 
by ballot, the Vice-President. 

The Congress may determine the time of choosing the electors, and 
the day on which they shall give their votes, which day shall be the 
same throughout the United States. 

No person except a natural-born citizen, or a citizen of the United 
States at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible 
to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to the 
office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty-five years, and 
been fourteen years a resident within the United States. 

In case of the removal of the President from office, or of his death, 
resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said 
office, the same shall devolve on the Vice-President, and the Congress 
may, by law, provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or 
inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what 
officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed or a Presi- 
dent shall be elected. 

The President shall, at stated times, receive for his services a com- 
pensation, which shall neither be increased nor diminished during the 
period for which he shall be elected, and he shall not receive within 
that period any other emolument from the United States or any of 
them. 

Before he enter on the execution of his office he shall take the fol- 
lowing oath or affirmation : 

"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office, 
of the President of the United States, and will, to the best of my ability, 
preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States." 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 269 

Sec. 12. The President shall be commander-in-chief of thfc armv 
and navy of the United States, and of the militia of the several States; 
he may require the opinion, in writing, of the principal officer in each 
of the executive departments, upon any subject relating to the duties of 
the respective offices, and he shall have power to grant reprieves and 
pardons for offences against the United States, except in cases of im- 
peachment. 

He shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the 
Senate, to make treaties, provided two- (thirds of the Senators present 
concur, and he shall nominate, and, by and with the advice and consent 
of the Senate, shall appoint ambassadors, other public ministers and 
consuls, Judges of the Supreme Court, and all other officers of the 
United States, whose appointments are not herein otherwise provided 
for, and which shall be established by law, but the Congress may, by 
law, vest the appointment of such inferior officer as they think proper 
in the President alone, in the courts of law, or in the heads of depart- 
ments. 

The President shall have the power to fill up all vacancies that may 
happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions, which 
shall expire at the end of their next session. 

Sec. 13. He shall, from time to time, give to the Congress informa- 
tion of the state of the Union, and recommend to their consideration 
such measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient; he may, oit 
extraordinary occasions, convene both houses, or either of them, and in 
case of disagreement between them with respect to the time of adjourn- 
ment, he may adjourn them to such time as he shall think proper; he 
shall receive ambassadors and other public ministers; he shall take care 
that the laws be faithfully executed, and shall commission all the ofiicers 
of the United States. 

Sec. 14. The President, Vice-President, and all civil officers of the 
United States, shall be removed from office on impeachment for and 
conviction of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors, 

article III. 

, Section i. The judicial power of the United States shall be vested 
in one Supreme Court, and in such inferior courts as the Congress may 
from time to time ordain and establish. The judges, both of the 
supreme and inferior courts, shall hold their oflfices during good behavior, 
and shall, at stated times, receive for their services a compensation, 
which shall not be diminished during their continuance in office. 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 271 

Sec. 2. The judicial power shall extend to all cases, in law and 
equity, arising under this Constitution, the laws of the United States, 
and treaties made, or which shall be made, under their authority; to all 
cases affecting ambassadors, other public ministers and consuls; to all 
cases of admiralty and maritime jurisdiction; to controversies between 
two or more States, between a State and citizens of another State, 
between citizens of different States, between citizens of the same State 
claiming lands under grants of different States, and between a State, or 
the citizens thereof, and foreign States, citizens or subjects. 

In all cases aflfecting ambassadors other public ministers and 
consuls, and those in which a State shall be a party, the Supreme Court 
shall have original jurisdiction. In all the other cases before mentioned, 
the Supreme Court shall have appellate jurisdiction both as to law and 
fact, with such exceptions and under such regulations as the Congress 
shall make. 

The trial of all crimes, except in cases of impeachment, shall be by 
jury, and such trial shall be held in the State where the said crime shall 
have been committed; but when not committed within any State, the 
trial shall be at such place or places as the Congress may, by law, have 
directed. 

Sec. 3. Treason against the United States shall consist only in 
levying war against them, or in adhering to their enemies, giving them 
aid and comfort. No person shall be convicted of treason unless on the 
testimony of two witnesses to the same overt act, or on confession in 
open court. 

The Congress shall have power to declare the punishment of treason, 
but no attainder of treason shall work corruption of blood or forfeiture, 
except during the life of the person attainted. 

ARTICLE IV. 

Sec. I. Full faith and credit shall be given in each State to the 
public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other State. 
And the Congress may, by the general laws, prescribe the manner in 
which such acts, records and proceedings shall be proved, and the eflfect 
thereof 

Sec. 2. The citizens of each State shall be entitled to all privi- 
leges and immunities of citizens in the several States. 

A person charged in any State with treason, felony or other crime, 
who shall flee from justice, and be found in another State, shall, on 
demand of the executive authority of the State from which he fled, be 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 273 

delivered up, to be removed to the State having jurisdiction of the 
crime. 

No person held to service or labor in one State, under the laws 
thereof, escaping into another, shall, in consequence of any law or reg- 
ulation therein, be discharged from such service or labor, but shall 
be delivered up on claim of the party to whom such service or labor 
may be due. 

Sec. 3. New States may be admitted by the Congress into this 
Union, but no new State shall be formed or erected within the jurisdiction 
of any other State, nor any States be formed by the junction of two or 
more States or parts of States, without the consent of the legislatures of 
the States concerned as well as of the Congress. 

The Congress shall have power to dispose of and make all need- 
ful rules and regulations respecting the territory or other property 
belonging to the United States; and nothing in this Constitution shall 
be so construed as to prejudice any claims of the United States, or of 
any particular State. 

Sec. 4. The United States shall guarantee to every State in this 
Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of 
them against invasion, and on application of the legislature, or of the 
executive (when the legislature can not be convened), against domestic 
violence. 

ARTICLE V. 

The Congress, whenever two-thirds of both houses shall deem it 
necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the 
application of the legislatures of two-thirds of the several States, shall 
call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, 
shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution,' 
when ratified by the legislatures of three-fourths of the several States, 
or by conventions in three-fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode 
of ratification may be proposed by the Congress, provided that nc 
amendment which may be made prior to the year One Thousand Eight 
Hundred and Eight shall in any manner affect the first and fourth clauses 
in the ninth section of this article; and that no State, without its con- 
sent, shall be deprived of its equal suffrage in the Senate. 

ARTICLE VI. 

All debts contracted and engagements entered into before the adoption 
of this Constitution, shall be as valid against the United States under 
this Constitution as under the confederation. 



CONSTni'TI()N OF THE UNITl-:!) STATES. 275 

This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be 
made in pursuance thereof, and all treaties made, or which shall be 
made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme 
law of the land, and the judges in every State shall be bound thereby, 
anything in the constitution or laws of any State to the contrary not- 
withstanding. 

The Senators and Representatives before mentioned, and the mem- 
bers of the several States, legislatures, and all executive and judicial 
officers, both of the United States and of the several States, shall be 
bound by oath or affirmation to support this Constitution, but no relig- 
ious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public 
trust under the United States. 

ARTICLE VII. 

The ratification of the conventions of nine States shall be sufficient 
for the establishment of this Constitution between the States so ratify- 
ing the same. 

Done in convention by the unanimous consent of the States present, 
the seventeenth day of September, in the year of Our Lord, One Thou- 
sand Seven Hundred and Eighty-seven, and of the Independence of the 
United States of America the twelfth. In witness whereof we have 
hereunto subscribed our names. (Signed by the members of the Con- 
vention). 

AMENDMENTS. 

At the first session of the First Congress, held in the city of 
New York, and begun on Wednesday, the 4th of March, 1789, 
many amendments to the National Constitution were offered for con- 
sideration. The Congress proposed ten of them to the legislatures 
of the several States. These were ratified by the constitutional num- 
ber of State legislatures by the middle of December, 1791. Five 
other amendments have since been proposed and duly ratified, and have 
become, with the other ten, a part of the National Constitution. 

The following are the amendments: 

ARTICLE I. 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of relig- 
ion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom 
of speech, or of the press; or to the right of the people peaceably to 
assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances. 

ARTICLE II. 

^ well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 277 

free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not 
be infringed. 

ARTICLE III. 

No soldier shall, in time of peace, be quartered in any house 
without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a 
manner to be prescribed by law. 

ARTICLE IV. 
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, 
papers and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall 
not be violated, an<l no warrants shall issue but upon probable cause, 
supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the 
place to be searched and the person or things to" be seized. 

ARTICLE V. 
No person shall be held to answer for a capital or otherwise 
infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a grand 
jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the 
militia, when in actual service in time of war and public danger; 
nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put 
in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal 
case to be a witness against himself, nor to be deprived of life, lib- 
erty or property, without due process of law; nor shall private prop- 
erty be taken for public use without just compensation. 

ARTICLE VI. 

In all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to 
a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and dis- 
trict wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district 
shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed 
of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the 
witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining wit- 
nesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense. 

ARTICLE VII. 

In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed 
twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact 
tried by a jury shall be otherwise re-examined in any court of the United 
States than according to the rules of common law. 

ARTICLE VIII. 

Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor 
cruel and unusual punishment inflicted. 



278 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 

ARTICLE IX. 
The enumeration in the Constitution of certain rights shall not be 
construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people. 

ARTICLE X. 

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution 
not prohibited by it to the States are reserved to the States respectively, 
or to the people. 

ARTICLE XI. 

The judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to 
extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against 
the United States, by citizens of another State, or by citizens or sub- 
jects of any foreign State. 

ARTICLE XII. 

The electors shall meet in their respective States, and vote for Presi- 
dent and Vice-President, one of whom, at least, shall not be an inhabi- 
tant of the same State with themselves; they shall name in their ballots 
the person voted for as President, and in distinct ballots the person voted 
for Vice-President, and they shall make distinct lists of all persons 
voted for as President and of all persons voted for as Vice-President, 
and of the number of votes for each, which lists they shall sign and 
certify, and transmit sealed to the seat of Government of the United 
States, directed to the President of the Senate; the President of the 
Senate shall, in the presence of the Senate and House of Representa- 
tives, open all the certificates, and the votes shall then be counted; the 
person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be 
President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of 
electors appointed, and if no person have such majority, then from the 
persons having the highest numbers, not exceeding three, on the list of 
those voted for President, the House of Representatives shall choose 
immediately, by ballot, the President. But in choosing the President, 
the votes shall be taken by States, the representation from each State 
having one vote; a quorum for this purpose shall consist of a member 
or members from two-thirds of the States, and a majority of all the 
States shall be necessary to a choice. And if the House of Represen- 
tatives shall not choose a President whenever the right of choice shall 
devolve upon them, before the fourth day of March next following, then 
the Vice-President shall act as President, as in the case of death or 
other constitutional disability of the President. The person having the 
greatest number of votes as Vice-President shall be Vice-President, if 



CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 279 

such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed, 
and if no person have a majority, then from the two highest numbers 
on the list the Senate shall choose the Vice-President; a quorum for the 
purpose shall consist of two-thirds of the whole number of Senators, 
and a majority of the whole number shall be necessary to a choice 
But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall 
be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. 

ARTICLE XIII. 

Section i. Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a 
punishment for crime, whereof the party shall have been duly con- 
victed, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to 
their jurisdiction. 

Sec. 2. Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 

ARTICLE XIV. 

Section i. All persons born or naturalized in the United States, 
and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States 
and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce 
any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens 
of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, 
liberty or property, without due process of law, nor deny to any person 
within its jurisdiction the equal protection of laws. 

Sec. 2. Representatives shall be appointed among the several 
States according to their respective numbers, counting the whole 
number of persons in each State, excluding Indians not taxed. But 
when the right to vote, at any election for the choice of electors for 
President and Vice-President of the United States, Representative in 
Congress, the executive or judicial officers of a State, or the members 
of the legislature thereof, is denied to any of the male inhabitants of 
such State, being twenty-one years of age and citizens of the United 
States, or in any way abridged, except for participation in rebellion or 
other crime, the basis of representation therein shall be reduced in 
the proportion which the number of such male citizens shall bear to 
the whole number of male citizens twenty-one years of age in such 
State. 

Sec. 3. No person shall be Senator or Representative in Congress, 
or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or 
military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having 
previously taken oath as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the 



280 CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES. 

United States, or as a member of any State legislature or as an execu- 
tive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the 
United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against 
the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress 
may, by a vote of two-thirds of each house, remove such disability. 

vSec. 4. The validity of the public debt of the United States, 
authorized by law, including debts incurred by payment of pensions and 
bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not 
be questioned. But neither the United States or any State shall assume 
to pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion 
against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of 
any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held 
illegal and void. 

Sec. 5. Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate 
legislation, the provisions of this article. 

ARTICLE XV. 

Section i. The right of the citizens of the United States shall 
not be denied or abridged by the United States, or in any State, on 
account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude. 

Sec. 2. The Congress shall have power to enforce this article by 
appropriate legislation. 



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